Okapids rely heavily on scent to communicate. They use scent glands on their feet to mark paths. These scent trails help them navigate dense forests. Other okapids can detect who passed by and when. This reduces the need for vocal calls. Quiet signaling keeps them hidden from predators.
This matters because silence increases survival. Sound can reveal location instantly.
It shows communication does not need noise. Smell can carry complex information.
Some scent marks can last several days in humid forests.
Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)