1000+ images about Zebra, Zebras, plains zebra, the Grévy's zebra, mountain zebra on Pinterest | Unique, Habitats and Stripes Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Zebra, Zebras, plains zebra, the Grévy's zebra, mountain zebra Zebra, Zebras are several species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the Grévy's zebra and the mountain zebra. various anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction. Grévy's zebra and the mountain zebra are endangered. 106 Pins803 Followers How Many Zebra Species Are There? | Animals - mom.me How Many Zebra Species Are There? Zebras form large herds to investigate new feeding areas. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images There are three species of zebra: Burchell's or the plains zebra, Grevy's zebra and the mountain zebra.

Although each species looks similar, there are differences in appearance. Zebra of all species prefer to live in open grassland, and you'll find them in Eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya, and in parts of southern Africa, especially around the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. Zebra Species Like horses and asses, zebras belong to the equid family. The main characteristics shared by the group are that they are long-lived, fast movers with large teeth suitable for chewing anything herbivorous. Zebra, regardless of species, live approximately 25 years in the wild and up to 40 in captivity. The zebra looks similar to a horse, except he has a short, tufted mane and those distinctive stripes. Each zebra species has its own general stripe pattern, but more fascinatingly, every zebra has his own unique stripe pattern, in the way that a person has a unique set of fingerprints. Scientists offer a few suggestions about the purpose of a zebra's stripes. They may act as camouflage or like sunscreen, or they may keep flies away or help zebras to recognize each other according to the National Geographic.

Burchell's Zebra As is typical in the sciences, two species of zebra are named after the scientists who discovered and identified them. Burchell's zebra, which also is referred to as the plains zebra, is the most numerous of the three species. One of the best places to see plains zebra is in the Serengeti park in Tanzania, according to the African Wildlife Foundation. The plains zebra likes to live in smallish units consisting of a stallion, a few mares and their young. These small units occasionally get together with others to form spectacularly enormous herds. These herds usually are the first to enter new grazing pastures, particularly wetlands. They trample down the long vegetation so the gazelle and wildebeest can follow. Grevy's Zebra Grevy's zebra is larger than Burchell's, weighing between 770 and 990 pounds compared to 485 to 550 pounds for a Burchell's zebra. Two features distinguish it from the other zebra species: it has a longer mane and larger ears.

The Grevy is only about 5 inches taller than Burchell's zebra, which indicates that Burchell's zebra has a much stockier body. Perhaps that is why the Romans used Grevy's zebra, which they called hippotigris, to pull carts in circuses. Grevy's zebra are found mostly in northern Kenya, but in substantially reduced numbers. There are only around 2,500 Grevy's in Africa compared to 15,000 just a few decades ago, according to the AWF. Converting grazing land to agricultural use is one major threat to these animals. The Mountain Zebra The mountain zebra has two subspecies: Hartmann's and the Cape mountain zebra. These species mostly live in southern Africa, particularly Namibia and western South Africa. Compared to Burchell's and Grevy's zebra, this species prefers mountainous areas. His stripes are thinner and more numerous than those of the Burchell's zebra, and he has broad stripes on his rump that distinguish him from the other two species. He also has a fold of skin on his throat, called a dewlap, that other zebras don't have.

Both subspecies are classified as endangered. In the past hunting decimated herds, but land cultivation now is a bigger threat. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Author Based in London, Eleanor McKenzie has been writing lifestyle-related books and articles since 1998. Her articles have appeared in the "Palm Beach Times" and she is the author of numerous books published by Hamlyn U.K., including "Healing Reiki" and "Pilates System." She holds a Master of Arts in informational studies from London University. See More Animals Zebra | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants Equus zebra, E. quagga, E. grevyi CLASS: Mammalia (Mammals) SPECIES: zebra (mountain zebra), quagga (plains zebra), grevyi (Grevy’s zebra) SUBSPECIES: 7 ABOUT Despite their appearance, zebras aren’t just black and white. They are sturdy, spirited animals that are a study in contrasts: willful and playful, social and standoffish, resilient and vulnerable. Their life in a herd can be complex, yet they also find safety in numbers.

They are prey for predators, but they are by no means shrinking violets when it comes to defending themselves. Read between the lines, and you’ll discover that the world of the zebra is colorful indeed! Zebras are equids, members of the horse family. They have excellent hearing and eyesight and can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour). They also have a powerful kick that can cause serious injury to a predator, like a lion, a hyena, or an African wild dog. Usually the lead male of the herd, called a stallion, sounds the alarm if danger is spotted and stays at the back of the group to defend against predators if necessary, while the mares (females) and foals (youngsters) run away. Zebras often trot when moving to new pastures, which is a fairly fast but easy gait for them to use over the long distances they may have to travel. Their hard hooves are designed to withstand the impact of their body weight and to run easily over rocky ground. When resting at night, zebras lie down while one stands watch to prevent an ambush. Stripes: White with black or black with white?

This is one of the most-asked questions about zebras. So what's up with the stripes? Zebras are generally thought to have white coats with black (sometimes brown) stripes. That's because if you look at most zebras, the stripes end on their belly and toward the inside of the legs, and the rest is all white. However (there had to be a catch, right?), some zebras are born with genetic variations that make them all black with white stripes, or mostly dark with the striped pattern on just part of their coats. And as it turns out, zebras have black skin underneath their hair. So it depends on how you look at it! So, why the stripes? They serve as a kind of protection from predators! When zebras are grouped together, their combined stripes make it hard for a lion or leopard to pick out one zebra to chase. Zebra stripes are unique to each individual, and researchers in the field have used zebras’ individual stripe patterns for identification. It might seem like a zebra is a zebra, but there are three different species: plains, mountain, and Grevy’s zebras. Different zebra species have different types of stripes, from narrow to wide.

In fact, the farther south on the African plains you travel, the farther apart the stripes on the zebras get! The basic form of zebras—a large head, sturdy neck, long legs, a dorsal stripe along the spine and down a tasseled tail, and bristly mane—is universal. No zebra, or other wild equid, has a forelock. The Grevy’s zebra is the largest, weighing from 770 to 990 pounds (350 to 450 kilograms) and measuring up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) at the shoulder. Its thick neck and large, round ears give the Grevy’s zebra the most mule-like physique. The Grevy’s zebra also has the thinnest stripes, extending all the way down to their white belly; on the hindquarters the stripes are vertical until above the hind legs. A mountain zebra has vertical stripes on the neck and torso, which graduate to wider—and fewer—horizontal bars on the haunches. It has a gridiron pattern on the rump, and its white underside has a dark stripe that runs the length of the belly.

A mountain zebra also has a distinctive dewlap on the throat that looks a bit like an Adam’s apple. The plains zebra is the most abundant and the smallest of the three zebra species. Some subspecies have a stripe pattern different from all others: brownish “shadow” stripes between the black stripes on their coat. HABITAT AND DIET Different zebras have different habitats: Grevy’s zebras live in semi-arid grassland habitat in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Mountain zebras, as their name implies, inhabit rocky, arid slopes in Namibia and Angola. Plains zebras, which are the most abundant of the three zebra species, are found from the grasslands of East Africa to the scrubby woodlands of southern Africa. They are one of Africa’s most successful and adaptable large herbivores. A subspecies of the plains zebra, the Grant’s zebra, is famous for its spectacular migrations during the rainy season in the Serengeti, when as many as 10,000 of these animals can be seen journeying together in congregated herds.

Zebras are herbivores and feed mostly by grazing on grasses, although they also might browse a bit on the leaves and stems of bushes. They graze for many hours each day, using their strong front teeth to clip off the tips of the grass. Their back teeth then crush and grind the food. Spending so much time chewing wears the teeth down, so those teeth keep growing all their lives. As the dry season arrives and the grasses die back, zebra herds travel to find more food and water holes for drinking. Most zebras are considered nomadic, without specific territories. The exception is the Grevy's zebra. Stallions of this species mark out territories with urine and dung. The mares, their foals, and immature males wander through as they wish. If food becomes scarce, though, the stallions leave their territories for a while and travel with the larger herds. Zebras at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are fed hay, alfalfa, and carrots. FAMILY LIFE Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours: Plains and mountain zebras are social herd animals, living in family groups with a stallion, several mares, and their offspring.

During certain times of the year, these groups gather together to form loosely associated herds of up to several hundred, but the family groups still stay together within these larger groups. Grevy’s zebras do not have a herd system, and males and females have no permanent bonds. Grevy’s zebra stallions establish territories, with mares crossing through them to breed and foal. Once the foals are old enough to travel, the mares usually leave the protection of the stallion’s territory to continue their nomadic lifestyle. Zebras communicate with one another with facial expressions and sounds. They make loud braying or barking sounds and soft snorts and whuffs. The position of their ears, how wide open their eyes are, and whether their mouths are open or their teeth are bared all mean something. Ears flat back, for example, means trouble, or you better follow orders! Zebras also reinforce their bonds by grooming each other. You might see two zebras standing head to back, apparently biting each other, but they are really only nibbling on each other with their teeth to pull out loose hair and get a good scratch. Like domestic horses, zebras put a good deal of energy into raising their offspring.

Zebra foals have soft, fuzzy fur, and their stripes are usually brown and white at first. Their legs are already almost as long as an adult zebra’s and they can walk just 20 minutes after birth and can run after an hour! This is important, since the mare needs to move with the herd to find food and water. She cannot leave the foal behind, so it must be up and running quickly in order to stay with the family. Foals must be able to recognize their mother from birth in order to survive. A foal learns its mother’s stripe pattern in order to follow her. Mares usually do not adopt other foals, so there would be no chance of getting food from anyone but Mom. Mothers often separate from the herd a short distance so that their foals can imprint on them. Once the foal can readily identify its mother, the mare and her foal return to the herd for protection. AT THE ZOO Two Chapman’s zebras were first exhibited at the San Diego Zoo in 1924, followed by a Grevy’s zebra male received in October 1940.

Today, the Zoo is home to a small herd of Grevy’s zebras in our Northern Frontier, and a young Grant’s zebra named Zari is one of our animal ambassadors. Guests can get close to Zari during our Animals in Action program or see her with her Mediterranean donkey companion, Sophia, in the Zoo’s Urban Jungle. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, you can view a herd of Grevy’s zebras from the Africa Tram Safari. Work is also underway on a new field exhibit for our group of Hartmann’s mountain zebras, and when it is complete you can see the similarities—and differences—in the two species for yourself. For an extra element of fun, the Safari Park is also home to an animated, digital zebra named Robert who serves as the Park’s “spokes-critter.” Guests can chat with Robert and ask him all sorts of questions about zebras. He’ll have you laughing in no time! You'll find Robert holding court in the Park's Nairobi Station. CONSERVATION There are some threats—loss of habitat, poaching, and disease—that zebras can’t outrun.

With a wild population of about 25,000, the mountain zebra is classified as threatened. The Cape mountain zebra came very close to extinction as a result of hunting and competition with domestic cattle. In 1937, Mountain Zebra National Park was established in South Africa, where only 47 Cape mountain zebras remained. Their numbers have now increased to several hundred, with the majority still in the national park. The endangered Grevy’s zebra’s population has been ravaged by anthrax outbreaks, dropping its ranks to an estimated wild population of 2,250. San Diego Zoo Global is a member of the Grevy’s Zebra Trust, an independent wildlife conservation organization in Kenya, and our researchers are working with other conservation groups to help preserve the population. As of August 2012, we'd had 128 Grevy's zebra births at our facilities. You can help, too. Every weekend at the San Diego Zoo we offer an opportunity to hand-feed our Masai giraffes for a $10 donation.

The money raised goes to the Northern Rangelands Trusts in Kenya and the Grevy’s Zebra Trust, both of which have a major focus on helping zebras. Through the generosity and participation of guests at the Zoo’s giraffe feeding, donations have brought much-needed help in vaccinating zebras against anthrax in Kenya and funding other needs. Sounds Fun facts about Zebras - Zebra Facts and Information - The Jungle Store See more Animal Facts Zebra Zebras are ungulates, which just means hoofed animals. They belong to the Equidae family, the horse family. Zebra have excellent eyesight and hearing. There are three main species of zebra: Plains Zebra, Mountain Zebra and Grevy’s Zebra. Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) are sometimes called common zebra, because they are the most common and geographically widespread. Plains subspecies include; Grant’s, Burchell’s, and Chapman’s or Damara. Grant’s zebras have a V-shaped pattern of stripes midway on their bodies. Burchell’s stripes are wider and become horizontal toward the rear. The zebra with dark and light stripes is the Damara (also called Damarland).

There are two categories of Mountain Zebra: Hartman Mountain and Cape Mountain. Their stripes are narrow at the front and get wider at the back, while the rear spine and upper tail are marked with a zipper-like pattern. They also have something that no other equine has—a dewlap or wattle of flesh under the throat. These zebras are also good rock climbers. Grevy’s Zebras are thought to be the oldest zebra type. They have a short, thick neck. Their stripes are narrower than other zebras and have one long stripe that runs along their back, plus they have a white belly. Grevy’s are the biggest zebra, yet they need less water than other types. However, they are endangered by lost of habitat, competition with domestic animals for water, and by poachers killing them for their hides. Fun Zebra Facts - In South Africa there is a project to bring back the Quagga, an extinct subspecies of the Plains Zebra. You can read about it by clicking on the link, "Quagga Project," below. - Zebras can run up to 40 miles per hour and baby zebras can run an hour after they are born!

- In ancient Rome Grevy’s zebras were called hippotigris and trained to pull carts for the circus. - On the Serengeti plains, Burchell’s zebras sometimes form migratory herds of tens of thousands! - Not only can you tell what type of zebra it is by its stripes, but no zebra has exactly the same stripes. References 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 zebra | mammal | Britannica.com mammal vertebrate Zebra, any of three species of strikingly black-and-white striped mammals of the horse family Equidae (genus Equus): the plains zebra (E. quagga), which is found in rich grasslands over much of eastern and southern Africa; Grevy’s zebra (E. grevyi), which lives in arid, sparsely wooded areas in Kenya and a few small areas in Ethiopia; and the mountain zebra (E.

zebra), which inhabits dry upland plains in Namibia and a few scattered areas in western South Africa . The plains zebra is made up of six subspecies: E. quagga crawshaii ( Crawshay’s zebra), E. quagga borensis, E. quagga boehmi, E. quagga chapmani ( Chapman’s zebra), E. quagga burchellii ( Burchell’s zebra), and E. quagga quagga (quagga, which is extinct). The mountain zebra is made up of two subspecies: E. zebra hartmannae ( Hartmann’s mountain zebra) and E. zebra zebra ( Cape Mountain zebra). A group of plains zebras (Equus quagga) near a stream. Leonard Lee Rue III Zebra behaviour as filmed on the plains of Africa. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Zebras are closely related to domestic horses. They are large single-hoofed ungulates built for speed and long-distance migrations. Zebras typically stand about 120–140 cm (47–55 inches) at the shoulder.

Male Grevy’s zebras are larger than females; in the plains zebra and the mountain zebra, the sexes are nearly the same size. Zebras exhibit no other sexual dimorphism except for males having spade-shaped canines used in fighting. The teeth of all three species are adapted for grazing. Zebras possess strong upper and lower incisors for cropping grasses and large high-crowned teeth for processing silicate-rich grasses that wear down molars. perissodactyl: Zebras All zebras are dark-skinned animals. The zebra’s stripes arise from melanocytes (specialized skin cells) that selectively determine the pigmentation of the animal’s fur. These cells transfer melanin (a skin-darkening pigment produced by melanocytes) into some of the animal’s growing hairs . Hairs that contain melanin appear black, whereas those without melanin appear white. Plains zebras (Equus quagga). ass The three species are easily distinguished by the pattern of their stripes. In the plains zebra the stripes are wide and widely spaced; some races have lighter “shadow stripes” between the main stripes.

The northern races of this species are more fully striped than the southern ones, in which the striping of the lower legs tends to give way to white. The mountain zebra has smaller stripes than the plains zebra; its stripes are closely spaced on its head and shoulders but widely spaced on its haunches. The mountain zebra also has a peculiar gridlike pattern of stripes on the rump. The stripes of Grevy’s zebra are the narrowest and most closely spaced of the three species; its belly is white. Where stripes converge on the shoulders, all zebras have triangular chevrons. Grevy’s zebra is the only species with a second chevron on the rump where the stripes converge. In all zebra species, the stripes are like fingerprints, allowing scientists to easily identify individuals. Some scientists maintain that the zebra’s stripes evolved to thwart horsefly infestation, which would have reduced the chance for disease . Indeed, there is evidence that the zebra’s stripes disrupt the horizontal pattern of polarized light reflected from dark surfaces that normally attracts horseflies. This would make the zebra’s striped fur less attractive to horseflies than the solid-coloured fur of horses. Two types of mating systems are observed in zebras.

Like the horse, the mountain and the plains zebras live in small family groups consisting of a stallion and several mares with their foals. The females that form the harem are unrelated. The harem remains intact even when the stallion leading the harem is replaced by another male. When moving, stallions usually remain in the rear but still maintain control over the movement of the herd. An adult and a young plains zebra (Equus quagga). © Mattiaath/Dreamstime.com Africa at Random: Fact or Fiction? In Grevy’s zebra, males are territorial. Males create dung piles, or middens, to mark territorial boundaries that typically follow physical features such as streambeds. Increased reproductive success is enjoyed by males that occupy territories through which females must pass in order to gain access to safe drinking areas or prime grazing sites. Females and bachelor males form unstable groups without any clear dominance hierarchy . Adult males and females do not form lasting bonds, but related females may occupy the same grazing areas. Grevy’s stallions maintain territories as large as 10–15 square km (4–6 square miles). However, females and bachelor male groups use annual home ranges of several thousand square kilometres.

Territoriality has evolved because resources are widely scattered and easily defendable. Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent With plentiful food, small groups may coalesce into large herds, but the smaller groups still retain their identities. Zebras often form mixed herds with other mammals such as wildebeests and giraffes , which gain protection from predators by the alertness of the zebras. Zebras with young colts avoid predators such as hyenas by forming a cluster around the mother and young rather than bolting. A stallion will attack hyenas and wild dogs if his harem is threatened. Unless hyenas hunt in large groups, their attacks on zebras are often unsuccessful. Herds of zebras and wildebeests cross a river during their migration. Gavriel Jecan/Corbis Available surface water is a critical need of zebras during the hot dry season. Both Grevy’s and mountain zebras excavate pits in dry streambeds to obtain subsurface water, and they defend these waterholes against strangers.

After these species have moved on, the drinking holes are used by other animals such as oryxes , springboks , plains zebras, kudus , giraffes, hyenas, and lions . Plains zebras (Equus quagga) at a waterhole, an example of coloration disruption. Gerald Cubitt Like other perissodactyls , zebras digest their food in the cecum , a blind sac at the far end of the small intestine where complex compounds such as cellulose are acted upon by symbiotic bacteria . Cecal digestion is less efficient for digesting grasses than ruminant digestion, but zebras compensate by ingesting more forage than do ruminants. This forage often includes grass stems and leaves too high in fibre or low in protein for ruminants to digest effectively and meet metabolic needs. Food travels rapidly through the cecum, and forage passes faster through a zebra than, for example, a wildebeest. Thus, even though zebras are less efficient than wildebeests in extracting protein from their food, they can extract more protein from low-quality grasses because of their faster rate of digestion and assimilation.

The selective advantage of this approach is that zebras can subsist on range grasses unsuitable for antelope , an especially important adaptation during periods of drought or seasonal declines in forage quality. The disadvantage is that zebras must spend a considerable part of their day feeding to maintain the high rate of intake. The increased time spent foraging exposes them to greater risks of predation. Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest All three zebra species have decreased in abundance through human activities, and the mountain zebra and Grevy’s zebra are endangered. The plains zebra, although relatively abundant, engages in an outstanding example of an endangered behaviour pattern—large-scale migration . Protecting migration corridors of plains zebras in East Africa is therefore as much a conservation priority as efforts on behalf of the two officially endangered species . zebra - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) On grassy African tablelands, from Ethiopia south to the Cape of Good Hope, graze the fleet and wary zebras, the striped members of the horse family Equidae.

The zebras comprise three main species-the plains zebra (Equus quagga), which is found in the rich grasslands over much of eastern and southern Africa; Grevy’s zebra (E. grevyi), which lives in arid, sparsely wooded areas in Kenya and a few small areas in Ethiopia; and the mountain zebra (E. zebra), which inhabits dry upland plains in Namibia and a few scattered areas in western South Africa. The plains zebra and mountain zebra are further divided into several subspecies. All zebra species have decreased in number because of human activities, and some are considered endangered. Because they readily breed in captivity, there is still hope of maintaining zebra populations in zoos and game preserves. Article Contributors Grévy’s Zebra | Natural History Natural History Grévy’s Zebra August 17, 2009 by retrieverman Equines are among the best-known animals. Most of us know about the donkeys and horses, as well as the mules that are created through hybridizing the two species, and one would be hard pressed to find a child who hasn’t heard of a zebra.

However, most people would be unaware how many interesting species of equine exist. I’m sure that the average person is unaware of the Przewalski’s horse or the onager. Further, I doubt that many people are aware that there are three species of zebra: the plains, the mountain, and the Grévy’s. Although I’m sure the plains and mountain species have their fans, my favorite species of zebra is the Grévy’s. It is a large thin-striped zebra that bears some resemblence to a donkey. It is the largest of zebras, with the largest stallions weighing nearly 1,000 pounds. It is adapted to high plains of East Africa, where it exists as the transition species between the arid living wild donkeys of North Africa and the more southerly species of mountain and plains zebras. This species has a rather interesting history with the West. You see, the révy’s was the first zebra species to be known by Europeans, for it was the “hippotigris” that appeared in the Roman Circuses.

After all, this species lives in areas that were known to the Ancient Egyptians, as well as the peoples living in the Middle East and Mesopotamia. It would make sense that some of these animals arrived in these areas under Rome’s control, and when they did, they wound up in bestiaries and circuses as examples of the vastness of Rome’s empire. However, the Romans were not expert taxonomists, and when Europeans began to expand into Africa, they assumed that the zebras they saw were the same species as the one that appeared in the Roman circuses. Of course, Europeans settled and explored the southern and eastern parts of Africa first, and that’s why the plains and mountain zebra are so much better known. Of these two, the plains zebra makes it into wildlife documentaries and zoos, and it is by far the better known of the two species. The main difference between the two is the mountain zebra has a small dewlap– the only equine to have one. However, none of this information was known to the Romans or Medieval Europeans. If a zebra showed up in Europe, it was assumed they were all the same species.

Because of this ignorance of zebra taxonomy, the Grévy’s zebra was not documented until the seventeenth century, when Europeans began to have normal relations with Ethiopia. Interestingly, the species does not get its name from the person who discovered it. Jules Grévy was president of France in the 1880’s and was given one as a present from the government of Ethiopia. The animal was very different from other zebras that were in Europe at the time, and because the specimen was brought over as Grévy’s possession, the animals were called Grévy’s zebras. These animals are the “missing link” between zebras and donkeys. The domestic donkeys that we know today come from North African wild donkeys that are very well adapted for arid climates. Wild jack donkeys maintain large territories, which they use to attract bands of females. Wild horses and mountain and plains zebras live very differently. In their societies, the mares live in a closely-bonded band that has a definite dominance heirarchy. It is led by a dominant mare and a single harem stallion. The Grévy’s zebra has the donkey social structure.

However, the males maintain much smaller territories than wild jack donkeys do, and the males are not aggressive to bachelor males that have no set territory. As with all equines, the young males are driven from their natal bands, where they form these young male bands called “bachelor groups.” In virtually all species of equine, the males with females or established territories tend to show a lot of aggression towards these bachelor bands. However, the Grévy’s stallions tend not to have such aggression towards these bands. Their aggression is much more heightened when other stallions with truly established territories encroach upon their terriotories. The striped pelt of the Grévy’s is in demand in the fur trade, and many of these animals have been killed for their skins. Habitat destruction is also taking its toll upon the species, for people now graze their livestock in the zebra’s native ranges, further denuding the high plains. These domestic animals also drive the zebra from waterholes, and herdsmen are not above chasing them from water sources to ensure that their stock has enough to drink. Such pressures have led to the IUCN to declare the species endangered.

It would be a shame if the zebra that once graced the circuses and bestiaries of Rome disappeared. These animals are vital to the biodiversity of their high plains ecosystem, and they tell us so much about how zebras evolved from the same ancestors as the donkeys. Share this: Zebra Facts | KidsKonnect Worksheets / Science / Animals /Zebra Facts Zebra Facts Zebras are several species of African equids (horse family) distinguishable by their distinctive black and white striped coats. Each zebra has a unique, different pattern to their stripes. Zebra are very social animals that live in small harems to large herds. They are related to the horse and the donkey, but have never truly been domesticated. Check the fact file below for more interesting zebra facts. Zebras are animals that resemble the horse. They walk, trot, canter and gallop like horses, but do not move as quickly. Unlike the horse, zebras have not been domesticated and run wild. They are odd-toed ungulates which means they have an odd number of toes on each hoof. Their eyes are located on the side of their head, and they have excellent eyesight.

Because zebras live in the wild, they need to be able to escape predators. Night vision helps them to see in the dark. Zebras also have great hearing and an excellent sense of taste and smell. Three species of zebras live in Africa. The species are the Plains Zebra, which is the most common one, the Mountain Zebra, and the Grevy Zebra. Zebras are a short, stocky animal that is generally about 8 feet long and stands between 4 and 5 feet at the shoulder. They can weigh up to 650 pounds. The have black coats with white stripes and a short, coarse mane that stands straight up in the air. Their shiny coats help control the heat from the sun. The stripes on a zebra are very much like fingerprints. No two patterns are alike. Many zoologists believe that a Zebra’s stripes act as camouflage. The vertical stripes blend into the vertical grasses that grow in its habitat. Even though the strips are white on a black background, the zebras main predator, the lion, is color-blind and when standing in tall grass may not be seen. Zebras live in social groups. The leader of the group is the stallion.

The females that live in the group are called fillies. A female zebra can have her first foal by the age of three, and can give birth to a foal every twelve months. Zebra foals are brown in color when they are born and are close to their mothers, but the male foal is also close to its father. The foals leave the group anytime from the time they reach 1 year old. Zebras are Herbivores, which means they eat plants, grasses and roots. This makes them a very successful member of the grassland community. Zebras sleep standing up like horses. They communicate by barking, snorting or whinnying. A zebra’s ears communicate if it is feeling calm or tense. If its ears are standing straight up, it is feeling calm. When the zebra’s ears are pushed forward, it is feeling tense or frightened. Predators that threaten the zebra are lions and hyenas. Other large cats also hunt the zebra. When the zebra herd is threatened, they will form a circle with all their members facing out. They will kick and bite to defend themselves. The Grevy zebra is considered an endangered species.

Zebras are mostly hunted for their skin, but they also struggle because much of the land where they graze has been taken over by farming. Primary Sidebar Trusted online source since 1999 Secure payments via Stripe or PayPal Resources created by teaching professionals Secure servers for online safety Excellent customer support Plains Zebra | Animal Database | Fandom powered by Wikia Least Concern The Plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchellii), also known as the common zebra or Burchell's zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra . It ranges from the south of Ethiopia through East Africa to as far south as Botswana and eastern South Africa . The plains zebra remains common in game reserves, but is threatened by human activities such as hunting for its meat and hide, as well as competition with livestock and encroachment by farming on much of its habitat. Subspecies include the extinct quagga and six recognized extant subspecies, though there is great variation in coat patterns between individuals. The striping pattern is unique among ungulates in the region, and its functions are disputed. Suggested functions include crypsis, forms of motion camouflage, social signaling and recognition, and discouraging biting flies.

The plains zebra's range is fragmented, but spans much of southern and eastern Africa south of the Sahara. Its habitat is generally but not exclusively treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands, both tropical and temperate. They generally avoid desert, dense rainforest and permanent wetlands, and rarely stray more than 30 kilometers from a water source. The plains zebra is a highly social species, forming harems with a single stallion, several mares and their recent offspring; there are also bachelor groups. Groups may come together to form herds. The animals keep watch for predators rather than attempting to hide; they bark or snort when they see a predator, and the harem stallion attacks predators such as dogs, hyenas and leopards to defend his harem. The species population is stable and not endangered, though some populations such as in Tanzania have declined sharply. Taxonomy Edit The plains zebra and perhaps the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but grévy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, while the former two are more horse-like. All three belong to the genus Equus along with other living equids.

Recent phylogenetic evidence suggests that Grévy's zebras (and perhaps also mountain zebras) are with asses and donkeys in a separate lineage from the Plains zebra. In areas where Plains zebras are sympatric with Grévy's zebras, it is not unusual to find them in the same herds and fertile hybrids occur. In captivity, Plains zebras have been crossed with mountain zebras. The hybrid foals lacked a dewlap and resembled the plains zebra apart from their larger ears and their hindquarters pattern. Subspecies Edit In 2004, C. P. Groves and C. H. Bell investigated the taxonomy of the zebra genus, Equus, subgenus Hippotigris. They published their research in the journal Mammalian Biology. They revised the subspecies of the plains zebra Equus quagga. Six subspecies are now recognizable. Image ( Pocock , 1897) The quagga was originally classified as a separate species, Equus quagga, in 1778. Over the next 50 years or so, many other zebras were described by naturalists and explorers.

Because of the great variation in coat patterns (no two zebras are alike), taxonomists were left with a great number of described "species", and no easy way to tell which of these were true species, which were subspecies, and which were simply natural variants. The quagga was the first extinct creature to have its DNA studied. Recent genetic research at the Smithsonian Institution has demonstrated that the quagga was in fact not a separate species at all, but diverged from the plains zebra, between 120,000 and 290,000 years ago, and suggests that it should be named Equus burchelli quagga. However, according to the rules of biological nomenclature, where there are two or more alternative names for a single species, the name first used takes priority. As the quagga was described about thirty years earlier than the Burchell's zebra, it appears that the correct terms are E. quagga quagga for the quagga and E. quagga burchelli for the plains zebra, unless "Equus burchelli" is officially declared to be a nomen conservandum.

Burchell's zebra was thought to have been hunted to extinction. However Groves and Bell concluded in their 2004 publication that "the extinct true Burchell's zebra" is a phantom. Careful study of the original zebra populations in Zululand and Swaziland, and of skins harvested on game farms in Zululand and Natal, has revealed that a certain small proportion shows similarity to what now is regarded as typical "burchellii". The type localities of the subspecies Equus quagga burchellii and Equus quagga antiquorum (the Damara zebra) are so close to each other that the two are in fact one, and that therefore the older of the two names should take precedence over the younger. They therefore say that the correct name for the southernmost subspecies must be burchellii not antiquorum. The subspecies Equus quagga burchellii still exists in KwaZulu-Natal and in Etosha.

Zebra Facts Zebra Facts By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | October 17, 2014 03:25pm ET MORE Credit: Mogens Trolle | Shutterstock Zebras are single-hoofed animals that are native to Africa. Zebras are very closely related to horses and donkeys; in fact, they are in the same genus, Equus. The most prominent feature of zebras is the bold patterns on their coats. Zebras are generally thought to have white coats with black or brown stripes, according to the San Diego Zoo , because the stripes end at their bellies and the inner side of the legs, which are white. However, zebras have black skin under their white coats! Each species of zebra has a different general pattern of stripes. The Grevy's zebra has very thin stripes. The mountain zebra has vertical stripes on its neck and torso, but horizontal stripes on its haunches. Some subspecies of plains zebras have brownish "shadow" stripes between the black stripes, according to the San Diego Zoo. It is believed that the zebra's stripes work like camouflage, according to the National Geographic .

When zebras stand together, it is harder for predators to determine how many zebras are in the group. The stripes may also make the zebra appear unattractive to smaller predators, such as bloodsucking horseflies, which can spread disease. In addition, the stripes may work as a natural sunscreen. Each zebra's stripes are unique. Just as no two human fingerprints are alike, no two zebras have the same stripe pattern. Size The largest zebra is the Grevy's zebra, according to the San Diego Zoo . It weighs 770 to 990 lbs. (350 to 450 kilograms) and is around 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall from shoulder to hoof. Their thick bodies make them look like mules with stripes. Mountain zebras are from 3.8 to 4.9 feet (116 to 150 cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh 529 to 820 lbs. (240 to 372 kg), according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology .

Plains zebras are 3.6 to 4.8 feet (1.1 to 1.5 m) at the shoulder and weigh up to 770 lbs. (350 kg), according to the African Wildlife Foundation . Habitat Though they all live in Africa, each species of zebra has its own home area. Plains zebras live in the treeless grasslands and woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. The Grevy's zebra lives in in the arid grasslands of Ethiopia and northern Kenya. The mountain zebra is found in South Africa, Namibia and Angola. Habits Plains zebras and mountain zebras live in family groups led by a stallion, with several mares and offspring. Family groups (known as harems) sometimes get together to form loosely associated herds, according to the San Diego Zoo. However, Grevy's zebras don't have herds. Instead, stallions establish territories and mares cross into them to breed and give birth. Once the foals are old enough to travel, they and their mothers move on. Zebras have several ways they communicate with one another.

Facial expressions, such as wide-open eyes or bared teeth, all mean something. They also bark, bray, snort or huff to get their point across. Even the position of their ears can signal their feelings, according to the San Diego Zoo. For example, ears flattened back means trouble. Another habit of zebras is mutual grooming, which they do to strengthen their bonds with each other. Known predators of zebras include lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. When danger approaches, the stallion will alert the others with a high-pitched snort, according to the University of Michigan. He will stand his ground while the rest of the family runs away in zigzag fashion. If he must fight, he will lower his head with neck outstretched and teeth bared, prepared to bite. However, running away is the usual tactic, sometimes accompanied by a defensive kick. The kick can be powerful, though, and can cause serious injury to a predator. Diet Zebras eat mostly grass and will travel up to 1,800 miles in search of food, according to the African Wildlife Foundation . Some zebras also eat leaves and twigs.

Offspring Female zebras carry their young for a gestation period of 12 to 14 months. Baby zebras are called foals. When they are born, foals weigh around 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo . Soon after birth, foals are able to stand up and walk. The young zebra gets its nutrition from its mother's milk and will continue to nurse throughout its first year. Zebras become fully mature at 3 to 6 years old and will have a lifespan of around 25 years. Classification/taxonomy Some experts say that there are three species of zebras — Grevy's zebra, plains zebra and mountain zebra — and that Hartmann's zebra is a subspecies of mountain zebra. Other experts say Hartmann's zebra is a separate species. For example, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says genetic analysis does not support the hypothesis that Hartmann's zebra is a separate species. The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), a service of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, on the other hand, lists four species.

Likewise, the IUCN says a 2008 study of 17 plains zebra populations that represented five of the six subspecies found very little differentiation among them and concludes that the subspecies splits may be arbitrary. ITIS, however, lists six subspecies of plains zebra. The taxonomy of zebras, according to ITIS, is: Kingdom: Animalia Equus hartmannae (Hartmann's zebra, Hartmann's mountain zebra) Equus zebra (Cape mountain zebra, Mountain zebra) Equus quagga (Plains zebra) Equus quagga boehmi (Grant's zebra) Equus quagga borensis (Half-maned zebra) Equus quagga burchellii (Zululand zebra, Damara zebra, Burchell's zebra, Bontequagga) Equus quagga chapmani (Chapman's zebra) Equus quagga crawshayi (Crawshay's zebra) Equus quagga quagga (Quagga; extinct) Conservation Status Each species of zebra has its own conservation status.

According to the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, the plains zebra is not endangered , while the mountain zebra is considered vulnerable and the Grevy's zebra is endangered. The Red List also lists Hartmann's zebra (as a subspecies of mountain zebra) as vulnerable. The mountain zebra is considered vulnerable because its population is low and susceptible to decreasing. According to the IUCN , the mountain zebra has a population of only around 9,000 adults. Though the population of the Grevy's zebra is stable, it is considered endangered because its numbers are so small. The Grevy's zebra has a population of just 1,966 to 2,447, according to IUCN . The quagga, considered since 1984 to be a subspecies of plains zebra based on genetic evidence, has been extinct since the 19th century, when the last one died at the Amsterdam Zoo in 1883. Additional resources

Question: Which creature has three species: plains, mountain and Grevy's?
Answer: Zebra