Quick Answer
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Crossword clue: “African mammal whose striped legs resemble a zebra’s”
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Answer: OKAPI – 5 letters
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Clue number and direction: 2 Down
The New York Times crossword clue “African mammal whose striped legs resemble a zebra’s” is answered with OKAPI in 5 letters. In the grid, you’ll fill it as OKAPI running down.
Why OKAPI Is the Right NYT Answer
- The okapi is a forest‑dwelling African mammal related to the giraffe, known for having hind legs with bold white stripes that look like a zebra’s. That matches the clue description almost word‑for‑word.
- For the February 11, 2026 NYT Mini, solution pages list 2‑Down as OKAPI for this exact clue, and its letters fit perfectly with all Across crossings (FOX, IKEA, NARCS, EPOCH, SIXTH).
What OKAPI Means
- An okapi is a shy, hoofed mammal from Central African rainforests that looks like a mix of a small giraffe and a zebra—solid body, long neck, and zebra‑striped legs. Despite the zebra‑like stripes, it’s actually more closely related to giraffes.
- So the clue is simply pointing at that distinctive “striped legs like a zebra” feature that makes okapis memorable in nature documentaries and trivia.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
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When a clue mentions “African mammal” plus zebra‑like stripes, OKAPI should be at the top of your list.
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Letter count helps: OKAPI is 5 letters, so any 5‑square “zebra‑legged” mammal clue is very likely OKAPI.
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Use patterns from crossings: once you have O_A_I or _KAPI, OKAPI becomes obvious.
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Keep an animal “crosswordese” list in mind: OKAPI, ELAND, ORYX, GNU, and EMU appear often in NYT‑style grids.
How OKAPI Fits the Grid
For 2‑Down on February 11, 2026, the Mini gives you a 5‑letter vertical slot, which OKAPI fills exactly. In pattern form, the entry looks like:
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Pattern in grid:
OKAPI(O‑K‑A‑P‑I)
Each letter intersects correctly with Across answers:
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O with FOX.
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K with IKEA.
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A with NARCS.
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P with EPOCH.
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I with SIXTH.
Those clean crossings confirm OKAPI as the only sensible answer.
Other Ways OKAPI Might Be Clued
OKAPI is a favorite in crosswords and often appears with clues like:
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“Forest giraffe”
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“Giraffe relative with striped legs”
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“Zebra‑legged African mammal”
All of these rely on the same visual: a giraffe cousin with zebra‑style stripes on its legs.
Complete February 11, 2026 NYT Mini Answers Today (Across & Down clues and answers)
Here are the key answers from the February 11, 2026 NYT Mini to help you complete the full grid.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Flying ___ (kind of bat, despite its name) | FOX | 3 |
| Furniture retailer known for its sprawling stores | IKEA | 4 |
| Drug cops, informally | NARCS | 5 |
| Geological time period spanning several ages | EPOCH | 5 |
| Like F, in the alphabet | SIXTH | 5 |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties for parking violations | FINES | 5 |
| African mammal whose striped legs resemble a zebra’s | OKAPI | 5 |
| Make a copy of | XEROX | 5 |
| Bank customer's holding: Abbr. | ACCT | 4 |
| “Quiet, you!” | SHH | 3 |
