Zebra (Equus zebra, Equus quagga, Equus grevyi) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links Listen Zebra Classification and Evolution The Zebra is a large species of equine that is natively found roaming the grassy plains of sub-Saharan Africa. They are the largest and most distinctive wild horses with bodies that are patterned with white and black stripes, the exact placement of which is unique to each individual. There are three different species of Zebra that are found in Africa which are the Common Zebra (also known as the Plains Zebra and the Burchell's Zebra), the Grevy's Zebra (also known as the Imperial Zebra) and the Mountain Zebra. They are incredibly sociable animals that can travel vast distances in search of fresh grass and water but are severely threatened throughout much of their natural range due to increasing levels of human activity. Today, both the Grevy's Zebra and the Mountain Zebra are considered to be endangered species and although the Common Zebra is more widespread and numerous, there have been sharp population declines in certain areas.

Zebra Anatomy and Appearance Zebras are heavy bodied animals that are perfectly designed for speed with their long and slender legs and narrow hooves helping them to reach speeds of 40kph when running. In the same way as horses, they only have a single toe on each foot which they walk on the tip of and is protected by their tough hooves. Their black and white stripes are unique to each individual and help them to identify each other when in the herd. Zebras have long necks and heads that mean they can easily reach the grass on the ground and a mane that extends from their forehead and along their back to the tail. The pattern of their stripes varies between the species with Grevy's and Mountain Zebras having narrower stripes and white undersides, while the Common Zebra has broad stripes that cover it's entire body. The Grevy's Zebra is not only the largest of the Zebra species but is also easily identifiable by it's large, rounded ears. Zebra Distribution and Habitat Zebras are found inhabiting the open grasslands and plains of East and Southern Africa where they spend almost of their time grazing on the grasses.

The Common Zebra is the most numerous and has the widest natural range throughout East Africa where they are found roaming the grassy plains. The Mountain Zebra can be found grazing on the mountain grasslands of South-West Africa, while the Grevy's Zebra is confined to the arid grasslands and sub-desert steppe throughout Ethiopia, Somalia and in northern Kenya. Zebras have evolved to run incredibly fast so they are able to escape from dangerous predators and so rely heavily on the open plains for their survival. Although the Common Zebra has been least affected, all three species are at risk from population declines due to the loss of their natural habitats caused by by increasing levels of human activity. Zebra Behaviour and Lifestyle Zebras are highly sociable animals that roam the savanna in herds for protection from predators. The Grevy's Zebra occupies herds more loosely than the other species with a stallion (male) patrolling enormous territories of up to 10 square kilometres, with mares (females) and their foals grazing freely and occasionally forming small groups that feed together.

Both the Common Zebra and the Mountain Zebra inhabit their native regions in long-term herds that split into smaller family groups which are led by a dominant stallion and contain between one and six mares with their young. Their strong social bonds can make them very affectionate towards one another, often grooming each other using their teeth. During the mating season, males will fight fiercely for the right to breed with the females and do so by rearing up on their back legs whilst kicking and biting one another. Zebra Reproduction and Life Cycles The Zebra is a relatively slow-developing mammal with females not being able to first breed until they are at least a few years old. After a gestation period that can last for between 10 months and a year, the female gives birth to a single foal that is born with it's stripes, mane and also has a little patch of hair in the middle of it's tummy. Zebra foals are able to stand within minutes of birth which is vital to ensure that they are able to run away to escape from predators. They are able to begin eating grass after a week and are weaned by the time they are 11 months old.

Young Zebras remain with their mother until they are mature at around three years old when the males leave their natal herd to join an all-male bachelor group, while females stay with their mother. These bachelor groups begin to challenge the dominant stallions to try and take over the harem during the mating season. Zebra Diet and Prey The Zebra is a herbivorous animal meaning that it only eats plant-matter in order to gain the nutrition that it needs to survive. The majority of the Zebra's diet (in fact around 90%) is comprised of a wide variety of different grasses with other plant matter including leaves and buds making up the rest. They use their sharp front teeth to nibble on the tough ends of grasses before grinding them up using the flat molars along it's cheeks. Due to the fact that grass has little nutritional value, Zebras must spend between 60% and 80% of the day grazing. Common Zebras are often seen drinking at water holes which they do every day but, due to the fact that the Grevy's Zebra and the Mountain Zebra inhabit drier, more arid regions, they often don't drink for several days at a time.

In the dry season Zebras can travel vast distances in search of fresh grass and water holes that haven't yet dried up, with the Grevy's Zebra also known to dig into the ground of dried up river beds to access the water underground. Zebra Predators and Threats The Zebra is a large and powerful animal that despite being herbivorous can easily outrun many of it's predators. Zebras are preyed upon by Lions, Leopards, Hyenas and African Wild Dogs, along with numerous other large carnivores such as Crocodiles when they are crossing rivers or drinking. Although their first instinct is to run away, Zebras are sometimes known to attack the animal that is threatening it by kicking and biting. However, when danger is spotted, Zebras alert one another of the threat and by running away from their predator as a tight herd, they often either confuse or simply intimidate their attacker. The biggest threat though to Africa's remaining Zebra populations is the increasing encroachment on their natural habitats by people, with the loss of their open plains to grazing for livestock and to clear land for agriculture.

Zebra Interesting Facts and Features The stripes of the Zebra remain a slight mystery to science even today as they were once thought to camouflage them into the natural light and shade of their surroundings to confuse predators, as once running as a herd, it is extremely difficult to remain focused on a single animal. The formation of the stripes on their rear end of the Zebra differs greatly between the three species with Common Zebras having horizontal stripes on it's haunches where those of the Grevy's Zebra curve upwards. These patterns on their rear ends are thought to differ so greatly so that members of the same herd are able to easily identify the individual at the front of the pack when running. As with other male horses, Zebra stallions are known to curl their top lips up which is thought to heighten their sense of smell. This so-called "horse laugh" is thought to prove vital for the male to be able to detect when a female is ready to mate. Zebra Relationship with Humans Due to the free-roaming nature of Zebras and over vast distances, the increasing human presence throughout the world has meant that Zebras have been affected by the loss of their habitats throughout much of the natural range.

However, one of the most intriguing things about Zebras to people is that because they are so closely related to other equines including Horses and Donkeys, Zebras has actually been able to breed with them to produce a hybrid foal, known as a Zonkey (Zebras and Donkeys) or as a Zorse (Zebras and Horses). Although it is not thought that the two species would naturally be able to mate in the wild due to geographical differences, a number of both Zonkey and Zorse individuals now exist around the world. Zebras are thought to have natural protection to certain parasites which has led people to breed Horses and Donkeys with Zebras to produce an animal that has the character and size of a Horse or Donkey but with the power and resilience of a Zebra. As with other cross-breed offspring though, Zonkeys and Zorses are infertile and so are unable to reproduce themselves. Zebra Conservation Status and Life Today Today, two out of the three Zebras species are listed by the IUCN as animals that are Endangered and therefore face extinction from their natural habitats in the future.

The Grevy's Zebra and the Mountain Zebra are found in increasingly isolated regions and their numbers continue to fall throughout their natural ranges. The Common Zebra is an animal that is listed as being Near Threatened by extinction in the wild and although they are still widespread and numbers appear to be relatively stable, they like the other species, are threatened by habitat loss throughout much of their natural range. Zebra Comments Rare & Extinct Creatures: Quagga THE QUAGGA The Quagga was a close relative of horses and zebras. It was a yellowish-brown zebra with stripes only on its head, neck and shoulders and with pale legs. The quagga was native to desert areas of the African continent until it was exterminated in the wild in the 1870s. The last captive quaggas died in Europe in the 1880's. Zoos sent the request "send more quaggas", but there were no more quaggas left alive. It had been ruthlessly hunted for meat and leather by South African farmers and settlers.

When first discovered, the Quagga was simply regarded as one zebra among many and was originally considered to be the female of the Burchell Zebra as the ranges of the species overlapped and there may have been interbreeding. The Hottentots used the same name for both animals. Because the term "quagga" was used indiscriminately to mean any zebra (although "Bontequagga" was sometimes used for the Plains zebra), the true quagga was hunted to extinction without this being realised until too late. The Quagga was basically a brown zebra with white legs and tail. It had no distinct markings on its hind quarters and only vague mottled markings on its back. In conformation it was more horse-like than any of the other zebras which, except for the Burchells, are generally large-headed and donkey-like. Its mane was distinctive, being described by an early observer as "curious, appearing as if trimmed by art". In the wild, quaggas grazed in mixed herds with wildebeest or hartebeest and ostriches.

The colonizing Boers found it the most obvious source of food for their native servants and a source of hides for domestic use and export. Quaggas hides were sturdy and lightweight and many were still in everyday use long after the animal itself was extinct. Quagga were plentiful in the 1840s, but the eradication of the quagga only took around 30 years. From Rev JG Woodï¿½s ï¿½Illustrated Natural Historyï¿½ (1853, 1874): The QUAGGA looks at first sight like a cross between the common wild ass and the zebra, as it only partially possesses the characteristic zebra-stripes, and is decorated merely upon the hind and fore-parts of the body. The streaks are not so deep as they are in the zebra, and the remainder of the body is brown, with the exception of the abdomen, legs, and part of the tail, which are whitish-grey. The Quagga lives in large herds, and is much persecuted by the natives of Southern Africa, who pursue it for the sake of its skin and its flesh, both of which are in high estimation.

The quagga is considered to be a southern subspecies of the plain zebra found in the drier parts of South Africa, on grassy plains. Its northern limit was the Orange River in the west and the Vaal River in the east; its south-eastern border appears to have been the Great Kei River. The last free quaggas were probably those caught in 1870 although a small population may have survived south of the Vaal river until the severe drought of 1878. The last captive quagga was a mare; she died on 12 August 1883 in Amsterdam Zoo, having been exhibited there since 9 May 1867. It was not realised that this quagga mare was the very last of her kind. It could, even then, have been saved by breeding it to the white-legged, white-tailed Burchell's zebra, itself destined for extinction a few decades later. The quagga's name comes from the Hottentot term for the creature, being an imitation of the zebra's"kwa-ha-ha" call. Tame quagga were used by the Hottentot as equine watchdogs.

Although tamed by Hottentots, the quagga was an immensely energetic and highly-strung creature and the stallions were noted to be prone to fits of rage. London Zooï¿½s one chance of breeding quaggas in the 1860s ended when the stallion beat itself to death against the wall of its enclosure. In England in the 1830s, quaggas (probably gelded to make them tractable) were used as exotic harness animals. Sheriff Parkins drove around London seated behind a pair of harnessed quaggas. Burchell's zebras were also popular between the shafts, but quaggas were said to have better mouths. Recent examination of portions of mitochondrial DNA and protein in the 1980's indicate that the quagga was a subspecies of Burchell's plains zebra. Photography was still in its early days and relied on the subject to make no sudden movements while the plate developed. The only living quagga photographed was the mare housed at London Zoo. She was photographed by Frederick York and Frank Haes in 1870. Four or five photographs exist and have widely reproduced.

These are outnumbered by colour paintings (colour plates in naturalist's books, paintings of quaggas in private collections); the earliest paintings being based on descriptions and/or skins. Burchell's Zebra was a subspecies of the Plains Zebra characterised by its unstriped legs and belly and its reddish brown body-stripes with paler "shadow stripes" in between on a cream or buff background colour. Its original range was mainly north of the Orange and Vaals Rivers, extending north into Botswana and the south-western Transvaal, and east to about Natal. It originally existed in vast herds, but by 1910 it was gone from the wild and the last known individual died in the Berlin Zoo in 1918. Plains zebra are black and white with no shadow stripes, although individuals show some variation (sometimes attributed to throwbacks indicating interbreeding with quagga). Selective breeding of these throwbacks or variant individuals could bring back both the Burchell's race of Plains Zebra and the Quagga; this would involve capturing and breeding together Plains zebra that lack stripes on their hindquarters and legs.

Some progress has already been made on this, producing individuals that lack stripes on their legs and rumps. However, will selective breeding really bring back the quagga or will it just produce something that resembles it? There are 23 mounted specimens, 7 skeletons and 13 skulls in museums around the world. Quagga exhibits are held at Amsterdam and Lieden (the Netherlands), Bamberg, Berlin, Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Mainz, Munich, Stuttgart, Tübingen and Wiesbaden (Germany), Basel (Switzerland), Cape Town and Pretoria (South Africa), Edinburgh (Scotland), Kazan (Russia), Exeter London and Tring (England), Lyon and Paris (France), Milan and Turin (Italy), New Haven and Philadelphia (USA), Stockholm (Sweden) and Vienna (Austria). The variability of striping suggests that some mounted specimens may be quagga x Burchell's zebra hybrids; these possibly interbred naturally where their ranges overlapped or artificially in captivity.

R I Pocock, writing in Harmsworth Natural History (1910), classed Burchell's and Chapman's zebras as quaggas while the species known today as the quagga was called Grey's quagga. He described numerous subspecies of quagga, many of which were merely pattern variations within a species. Pocock wrote: "The trivial and scientific designations of the quagga (Equus quagga) are derived from the name quaha" or ï¿½quacha," given to South African representatives of the species in imitation of their cry. It so happens that the first example to be made known to naturalists cane from the Cape flats and is now extinct; but striped equine animals with the same cry and the sane structural characters are now known to range through the whole of East Africa from Abyssinia to Zululand, and thence westwards to Southern Angola. Distributed over an area so vast and so varied in its physical features and exposed to widely different conditions of climate and temperature, the species exhibits marked local variations in colour and pattern, forming distinguishable geographical races or subspecies.

The northern and eastern races so far south as Mashonaland are fully striped with black and white or pale fawn to the hoofs ; but southwards from Mashonaland occur races in which the stripes exhibit more and more marked signs of disappearance from the legs, belly, and hind quarters; those that formerly inhabited Cape Colony, to which the name quagga was first applied, showing in some cases hardly a trace of striping even on the posterior part of the body. These, as well as some of the decidedly striped more northern races, were known to the Dutch colonists, who, by way of emphasising the difference, spoke of the latter as bontequaggas; but when the relatively less striped races became extinct, the term bontequagga dropped out of use amongst the Dutch, who to this day comprehensively speak of all the South African races as quaggas; and since no competent authorities now doubt that these animals belong to the same species as the existing North African and the extinct South African races, the scientific and vernacular term "quagga" may be extended to the whole series.

In the fully striped races of this species the stripes on the body extend to the median ventral line, those on its anterior half behind the shoulder-stripe, four or five in number, being vertical, while the remainder turn sharply backwards dorsally, no fewer than four forming a bold sweep back on to the hind quarters, this last characteristic being the distinguishing feature of the pattern of the species ; the stripes on the thighs are broad and on the legs numerous and close set the spinal stripe is distinct and widens behind over the saddle and croup, where it is usually separated from the adjoining stripes of the body and quarters. Of these northern forms the best known is Böhmï¿½s quagga (E. quagga boehmi) from British and German East Africa. Nearly allied to it are Jallaï¿½s quagga (E. quagga jallae) from Southern Abyssinia; and Crawshayï¿½s quagga (E. quagga crawshayi) from Southern Nyasaland.

Related to the last is a quagga from North Eastern Rhodesia to which the name annectans has been given, a race characterised by the great breadth of the dark as compared with the light stripes. South of the Zambezi in Mashonaland occurs Selousï¿½s quagga (F. quagga selousi), of the same general stamp as Böhmï¿½s quagga. In the latter faint stripes called " shadow stripes " are sometimes observable between the principal stripes on the quarters. These are also present in Selousï¿½s quagga; but in more southern forms they increase in distinctness and extent concomitantly with the disappearance of the stripes from the legs. Chapmanï¿½s quagga (F. quagga chapmanni), which ranges from Damaraland to the Transvaal, differs from Selousï¿½s quagga in having the legs, below the knees and hocks, sparsely striped. The reduction of the leg stripes is carried still further in Wahlbergï¿½s quagga (F.

quagga wahlbergi), from Zululand, a race which is also distinguished by the great reduction in width of the principal stripes upon the hind quarters; by the distinctness of the shadow stripes on this region, and by their forward extension to the withers. Still more different from the northern races is Burchellï¿½s quagga (F. quagga burchelli), from Bechuanaland, in which the stripes have almost vanished over the hind quarters up to the root of the tail, and on the fore legs up to the shoulder, leaving the legs whitish and almost unstriped; the body stripes no longer reach the middle line of the belly, and the shadow stripes sometimes extend as far as the head. In some of these quaggas, too, the lighter areas are ochre brown, so that there is no longer the sharp contrast between the dark and light stripes seen in the northern types. The next stage in variation is reached by various races, all now extinct, which formerly ranged southwards from the Orange River Colony over Cape Colony to the flats round Cape Town.

The typical quagga, of which only a coloured illustration is extant, was very like a dark-tinted Burchellï¿½s quagga, except that the stripes over the croup were broken up into spots. In other races, as shown by mounted specimens, the obliteration of the pattern was carried still further, so that only the head, neck, and shoulders were distinctly marked; the tendency of the obliteration being to produce a nearly uniformly brownish, or in some cases chestnut, animal with pale legs. But even the few specimens of Cape Colony quaggas that have been preserved show practically a complete gradation from Burchellï¿½s quagga to chestnut-tinted individuals with narrow dark stripes only on the head, neck, and shoulders. Between eleven and twelve hands at the withers is the average height of quaggas. Adapted essentially for living in the plains, quaggas have broader hoofs than the mountain zebra and African asses; the ears are markedly smaller than in other African species of Equidae, and the callosities are intermediate in size between those of the mountain and Grévyï¿½s zebras.

The voice may be described as a ringing bark, comparable in shrillness to that of a small dog, and representable by the syllables "qua ha ha," "qua ha ha," rapidly repeated and sharply uttered, a cry quite unlike the neigh of a horse or the bray of an ass or of Grévyï¿½s zebra. When South Africa was first colonised by Europeans, quaggas were exceedingly common on the flats and plateaus of Cape Colony, where they associated in troops, quite commonly mixed with ostriches, white-tailed gnus, and other antelopes. They were finally exterminated by the Boers in the Cape and Orange River Colonies; and the same fate is rapidly overtaking Burchellï¿½s quagga of Bechuanaland, of which, as in the case of the Cape Colony races, only a few mounted specimens have been preserved, although a few may still be seen in various menageries of Europe and America.

Quagga Project, Facts, Habitat, Pictures and Diet | Extinct Animals “oug-ga,” âkwahaah,â and “kwa-ha-ha” Appearance Their color and limited stripe patterns distinguished them from other Zebra subspecies. The frontal part of their body had dark stripes while the rear part was brown with no stripes offering a more horse-like appearance. The shape and patterns of their stripes varied in individuals. There were no stripes on their legs. Range They were once found in Karoo (Cape Province) and the southern part of the Free State in South Africa. Behavior They were found in groups (known as harems) of 40 â 60 individuals led by a dominant male. The social bond among individuals in a harem was very strong. During the day, harems migrated to long grass pastures; while coming back to shorter grass areas at night. They are known to be more docile that the Burchell’s zebra. Both males and females left their natal group when they reach reproductive maturity. Foals were born throughout the year. However, the peak season was early summer (southern hemisphere) â from January to December.

Interesting Facts The name “quagga” has derived from the Khoikhoi name for zebra. The name is still used to describe plains zebra. The last captive individual, a female, died at the Natura Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam on 12th August, 1883. She lived there from 6th May, 1867. Twenty-three mounted and stuffed Quagga specimens are preserved in museums across the world. Another mounted specimen was destroyed during World War II in KÃ¶nigsberg, Germany. In 1984, Quagga was the very first extinct animal to get its DNA analyzed. A captive breeding project was started by Lord Morton in order to save this animal from extinction. He just had one male. In desperation, he bred the male with a female horse that produced a hybrid that carried zebra-like stripes on its back and legs. Lord Morton sold the mare that later bred with a black stallion producing an offspring that had zebra-like stripes. Causes of Extinction Overhunting is one of the biggest causes of its extinction.

In the 19th century South Africa, many species, including Quagga, was killed in the name of sport. They were heavily hunted by the Dutch settlers. They were also hunted by the Afrikaners for their meat and skins (that was traded locally). Its limited distribution also made it vulnerable. The farmers saw them as a serious competitor to domestic livestock for forage. Quaggas were also captured and sent to zoos in Europe. This subspecies disappeared from much of its native range by 1850s. In the late 1870s, the last wild population remained in Orange Free State. The last known wild specimen died in 1878. During this time, the name ‘quagga’ was used in Afrikaans to refer to all zebras. Researchers believe that this created some confusion and when it was recognized that they were different from other zebras, it was too late. Quagga Project The Quagga Project is a selective breeding program of plains zebra that resemble the appearance Equus quagga quagga. The project started in 1987 under the guidance of Reinhold Rau.

To differentiate between the extinct Equus quagga quagga and the newly introduced Quagga lookalike stock, it has been suggested that the newly bred population would be called “Rau quaggas.” The founding populations had nineteen zebras (captured from South Africa and Namibia) which had fewer stripes on its rear body and legs. The first foal was born in 1988. The target was to breed sufficient quagga-like stock and then release them in Western Cape. The 3rd and 4th generation of “Rau quaggas” appear very much like the preserved specimens of the Quagga in museums. This type of reproduction, known as breeding back is quite controversial as it just produces specimens that resemble the outer appearance. The researchers involved in this project are reportedly trying to retrieve the genes (believed to be still present among living Plains Zebra populations) that is responsible for the brown color of the extinct animal. Cloning Equus quagga quagga cannot be cloned (as there are no live cells). The only genetic material available to the scientists is portions of the mitochondrial DNA. Published on July 11th 2015 by admin under Mammals .

Article was last reviewed on 13th August 2015. Leave a Reply Plains Zebra Facts | Common Zebras | Equus quagga Plains Zebra Equus quagga Black and white stripes make the zebra one of the most recognizable animals in the world. The plains zebra, also known as the common zebra, is the most abundant of three species of zebra, inhabiting the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. The other two species are Grevy’s zebras and mountain zebras. On average, plains zebras are smaller than the other two species of zebra. They range in height from 1-1.5 m (3.5-5 ft.) and can weigh almost 450 kg (1000 lbs.). Plains zebras also have a different stripe pattern than the other species. They have broad stripes that run horizontally towards the back and vertically towards the front, meeting in a triangle in the middle of their bodies. They also have a stripe that runs down the center of their backs onto the tail. Finally, plains zebras have underbelly stripes. Although all plains zebras share these similarities in stripe patterns, no two zebras have exactly the same pattern.

Zebras have very good hearing and eyesight, which helps them stay clear of predators such as lions, hyenas, and cheetahs. It also helps that they can run 56 km/h (35 mph) and pack a powerful kick. If one zebra spots a predator, it lets out a sharp two-syllable call. The young and female zebras run, while the males trail behind to defend them. If one is attacked, others circle around to help protect it from predators. Plains zebras are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They spend the majority of their day eating, mostly grazing on grass, but also eating leaves and stems. To keep up with the frequent grinding of these foods, zebras’ back teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. Zebras are known to travel great distances to find food and water when the dry season arrives. When not eating or traveling, zebras do take the opportunity to sleep. In fact, they sleep standing up! But zebras only sleep when they are in large groups so that they can be alerted of danger. A typical plains zebra family consists of a male, called a stallion, several females, called mares, and their children.

When a female becomes pregnant, it takes 13 months to have the baby, called a foal. These family groups are called harems. The harems will often join with other families to form large herds. Zebras can live up to 25 years in the wild. Conservation Status The plains zebra is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern, with the most stable population of the three species of zebras. Like many animals, plains zebras are susceptible to habitat loss and overhunting. Many plains zebras live in protected areas. What You Can Do to Help If you would like to help the plains zebra, you can donate to the African Wildlife Foundation , whose initiatives help preserve critical zebra habitat and wildlife corridors. Plains Zebra Distribution The plains zebra, also known as the common zebra, is the most abundant of three species of zebra, inhabiting the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. Zebra Resources Virtual Zoo - Equus quagga Equus quagga Genius: Equus Species: E. quagga What is black and white with stripes all over? A Zebra. The zebra is a hoofed mammal similar to a horse.

Research of the zebra shows where they live, what they eat, how they reproduce, social behavior, and their predators. Zebras mainly live in grasslands and thorny scrub lands. You wouldn’t find a zebra that lives anywhere in the United States. Zebras always have to live by rivers, streams, etc. Something interesting about zebras is that if it is too hot and all the water is dried up, zebras will use their hooves to dig holes in the ground to find water. If you have ever seen pictures of zebras you will see that they have kind of the same shape as a horse. Zebra’s have black and white horizontal stripes which set them apart from any other animal. Zebras also gallop, trot, etc. I wonder what other animal does that? Zebras can also run at the speed of 34 miles per hour, which is much faster than I can run. Zebras are very social animals. They do very well in zoos, because they are good around people. When they are not in captivity they are in the wild with their family. Usually zebras have smaller family groups. Did you know that zebras actually have very large brains, and are very smart?

They even have strategies for when enemies come! Zebras don’t have much of a diet, all they eat is grass! But, they will only eat if someone is on the lookout while they are eating. Usually zebras eat at night or at midday heat. Female zebras have babies when they are about three years old. Males do not start mating until they are about five or six years old. Female zebras are usually pregnant for about 12 months. They only have one foal. Physical characteristics of hoofed mammals are similar with each animal. For instance, they all have hooves, and their body shapes are a lot alike, just different sizes. There are two different kinds of hoofed mammals, even-toed and odd-toed. Even-toed hoofed mammals have four parts to their stomach. Odd-toed has horns, and they do not shed. Zebras belong to family Equidae, just like horses. Zebras live in small family units. Zebras also look out for each family member a lot, they are very dependable animals. When zebras are out in the wild their main predators are lions and leopards. They share some of the same predators as other hoofed mammals.

But, a lot of zebras are in captivity so they also do not always have predators! Research does not show an common economic or ecological importance from zebras. However, their skins have been sold for its unique patterns. As you can see, members of the class hoofed mammals are alike in many ways! But, zebras also have their own characteristics that no other animal has. Do you know what they are? Author: Megan D. Plains zebra videos, photos and facts - Equus quagga | ARKive Top Plains zebra biology The plains zebra obtains almost all its food by grazing, feeding selectively on certain grass species such as Pennisetum mezianum (1) . As a result of an efficient hindgut digestive system, this species is able to survive upon coarse vegetation which would be inadequate to fulfil the energetic requirements of other ungulates . As such, the plains zebra is able to make long-distance movements in search of food, and is often the first grazing species to colonise unexploited areas of grassland. The plains zebra’s removal of tougher growth has a valuable ecological role in allowing other ungulates to gain access to tender young growth (3) .

In some parts of its range the plains zebra is sedentary, while in others, such as the Serengeti, it undergoes seasonal movements in response to water availability (1) . The plains zebra has a complex social system, with the main social unit consisting of a 'harem' which comprises a single male, one to six females, which are typically unrelated, and a number of offspring. The male has sole breeding access to the females (4) , but must fight off challenges from bachelor males. The fights are fierce, and involve biting as well as powerful strikes with the front feet and kicks with the rear feet (5) . If the challenger proves victorious, the male is driven away from the harem, and will usually join a group of bachelor males which have yet to make a successful challenge, are too old to compete, or have also been ousted (4) (5) . Interestingly, large herds of plains zebra sometimes form, usually when grazing, sleeping or moving between areas, which are composed of bachelor groups as well as harems. This multi-level social organisation is unusual, and more characteristic of primates, such as baboons, than ungulates (4) .

While the plains zebra breeds throughout the year, peak numbers of births mostly occur during the wet season. The gestation period lasts for around 360 to 396 days, and a single young is produced which is capable of standing almost immediately and starts to eat grass within a week. The foal is weaned at 7 to 11 months and reaches puberty at 16 to 22 months. The young disperse voluntarily from the group when aged between one and three years, with the males joining bachelor groups until able to compete at around four years old. Females that have come into first oestrus advertise readiness to breed by adopting a distinctive stance, with the head lowered, tail raised and straddled legs. All males in the area compete fiercely for such females, and may abduct them from harems prior to voluntary dispersal. Once bonded with the successful male, the female no longer advertises when in oestrus (2) . Plains zebras are an important source of prey for several large predators, such as lions and hyaenas. When attacked, groups form a semicircle facing the predator, ready to bite or strike, and protect injured individuals by encircling them (6) .

Top Plains zebra range Though extirpated from many parts of its range, the plains zebra remains the most widespread and abundant equid on Earth (3) . The six subspecies have overlapping distributions, occupying portions of the total range, which extends from southern Sudan and southern Ethiopia, south along eastern Africa, as far as Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, before spreading into most southern African countries. The plains zebra is regionally extinct in Burundi and Lesotho, and possibly in Angola (1) . Top Plains zebra status The plains zebra is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1) . Five of the six subspecies are classified as Least Concern (LC): Grant’s or Boehm’s zebra (Equus quagga boehmi), plains zebra (Equus quagga borensis), Burchell’s zebra (Equus quagga burchellii), Chapman’s zebra (Equus quagga chapmani) and Crawshay’s zebra (Equus quagga crawshaii) (1) .

The sixth subspecies , the quagga (Equus quagga quagga), is classified as Extinct (EX) (1) . Top Plains zebra threats As a whole, this species is relatively widespread and common (1) . Nevertheless, local populations and subspecies are affected to varying degrees by habitat loss, hunting, and competition with livestock for grass and water. The plains zebra population of Tanzania, for example, appears to have undergone a decline of around 20 percent from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s (1) . As a result of more extensive human development and agriculture, the greatest levels of habitat loss are occurring in the southern half of this species’ range, while poaching is more prevalent in the northern half (1) (3) . Despite these threats, the plains zebra is extremely resilient, and in areas where it receives protection it has made a rapid recovery from losses incurred by overhunting for its meat and skin (1) .

Top Plains zebra conservation The plains zebra occurs in numerous protected areas across its range, including the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Tsavo and Masaai Mara in Kenya, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Etosha National Park in Namibia, and Kruger National Park in South Africa (1) . While these sites harbour large numbers of plains zebra and provide valuable refuge from poaching and habitat loss, this species also appears to be doing well in some unprotected parts of its range (1) . Although the plains zebra’s current situation is favourable, expanding human populations and settlements are a cause for concern. In order to guard against the possibility of future declines, measures such as improved population monitoring are necessary. In addition, investigations into alternative uses of this species, such as sharing tourist revenue with local people, would be beneficial to help lessen hunting pressure (1) (3) .

Question: Equus quagga is the scientific name for which animal?
Answer: Zebra