GIRAFFIDiE 



235 



wards, as in Bovidcc and Antilocapridcc). Lateral toes and 

 their supporting metapodials * wanting. 



Gall-bladder normally absent, at least in typical genus.f 

 Placenta with numerous cotyledons. Vertebrae : c. 7, 

 D. 14, L. 5, s. 3, c. 20. Dentition : i. §, c. ^, jj. |, m. f . 



Fig. 38. — Lower Front Teeth of Elk (.4) 



AND Giraffe (B), to show the difference 



in the form of the canine. 



Distribution restricted at the present day to Ethiopian 

 Africa ; but during the early Pliocene including Greece, 

 Saraos, Bessarabia, Persia, India, China, etc. 



The two existing genera are distinguishable as follows : — 



A. Size very large ; neck and limbs greatly elongated ; horns 



in both sexes ; males larger than females ; ears narrow ; 

 coloration in the shape of large dark blotches, or 

 " spots," separated by lighter intervals of varying width Giraffa. 



B. Size smaller ; neck and limbs of more normal proportions ; 



horns jiresent only in males, which are smaller than 

 females ; ears broad ; coloration uniform on greater 

 portion of body, striped on hind-quarters and legs Okapia. 



* = metacarpals + metatarsals. 



t See Garrod, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1877, p. 4. Owen had previously 

 recorded the occurrence of a gall-bladder in one giraffe dissected by 

 him. The viscera of the okapi are unknown. 



