Giraffidae is a
family of
ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a common ancestor with
deer and
bovids. This family, once a diverse group spread throughout
Eurasia and Africa, presently comprises only two extant members, the
giraffe (the only living species of
Giraffa) and the
okapi (the only known species of
Okapia). Both are confined to
Sub-Saharan Africa: the giraffe to the open
savannas, and the okapi to the dense
rainforest of the
Congo. The two species look very different on first sight, but share a number of common features, including a long, dark-coloured tongue, lobed canine teeth, and horns covered in skin, called
ossicones.