The scientific family name for giraffes and okapis, large long-necked African mammals.
From Camelopardalis (giraffe in Latin) + -idae (standard suffix in zoological taxonomy for families). Established in modern scientific classification, this name preserves the ancient misunderstanding that grouped giraffes with other animals.
Camelopardidae is genetically fascinating—giraffes and okapis are each other's closest relatives despite looking incredibly different, suggesting okapis' ancestor was like a short giraffe! They're what scientists call a 'relict' family—the last survivors of a once-diverse group.
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