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| @Galyna Andrushko/ Shuttertock |
Introduction To Zebras
The
zebra are one of several wild mammals that are related to horses and
have a distinctive coat of dark stripes against a light background. They
are widely known for their beautiful striped pattern which is unique to
each individual, much like fingerprints are to people. They are one of
the more popular and beloved animals in the animal kingdom and their
coat is so uniquely fascinating and striking that designers have copied
the striped pattern and used it for clothing, handbags and even home
decor items. It is said that their stripes help to camouflage them in
the brush and protect them from predators such as lions, hyenas and wild
dogs. They inhabit the plains and brushlands of eastern and southern
Africa as well as mountainous regions. Zebras and African wild asses are
the only members of the horse family native to Africa.
Like their relatives the African wild asses, they have a stocky build, muscular bodies and a stiff short mane that stands erect. Their long tail, which ends in a tuft of hair, is used to swat away flies and other insects that pester them. Their hooves are narrower than those of horses but are larger and more rounded than those of asses. Animals in the horse family are known as odd-toed ungulates which basically means a hoofed animal. They have one toe on each foot, large heads with broad noses and large ears that they can turn in virtually any direction. Their eyes are located to either side of their head which provides them with a wider range of vision. They have excellent eyesight in both day and night and also have a keen sense of hearing, smell and taste. They are a bit jumpy and nervous but seem to have very unique and playful personalities. They are extremely social animals and spend quite a lot of time grooming one another.
Like their relatives the African wild asses, they have a stocky build, muscular bodies and a stiff short mane that stands erect. Their long tail, which ends in a tuft of hair, is used to swat away flies and other insects that pester them. Their hooves are narrower than those of horses but are larger and more rounded than those of asses. Animals in the horse family are known as odd-toed ungulates which basically means a hoofed animal. They have one toe on each foot, large heads with broad noses and large ears that they can turn in virtually any direction. Their eyes are located to either side of their head which provides them with a wider range of vision. They have excellent eyesight in both day and night and also have a keen sense of hearing, smell and taste. They are a bit jumpy and nervous but seem to have very unique and playful personalities. They are extremely social animals and spend quite a lot of time grooming one another.
Just the Facts: Families in the Wild- A full DVD filled with zebras facts
53 minutes DVD entirely focus on zebras and how they live in "family". Fascinating film for both kids and adults.
Types of Zebras And Range Maps
There are three kinds of zebras living at present. A fourth kind of zebra, the Quagga, became extinct in 1883. The Quagga was striped only on the head, neck, and shoulders and the rest of the body was reddish brown. Learn more about the Quagga: QuaggaQuagga (Equus quagga quagga) is an extinct sub-species of zebra.
3 different zebras
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| Grevy's zebra by bobosh_t (http://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/4847517233/) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons |
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| Plain zebras By Rose Davies from Oxford, UK (Zebras) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons |
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| Mountain zebra By Tanweer drmc (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
Where to see zebras in the wild
Plains zebras: plain zebras, also commonly known as Burchell's zebra, are typically found grazing in | ||
| Plain zebras map |
Grevy's zebra: the largest of the living zebras is Grevy's zebra. It stands 4 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs about 600 pounds. They are known as the imperial zebra with numerous narrow stripes on the head, body and legs and a broad black stripe running down the back. Grevy's zebras are usually found in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. They are considered to be an endangered species along with the Mountain zebra. Grevy's zebras are not social in comparison to the other two species and do not live in harems.
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| Grevy's Zebras Area |
Mountain zebras: Mountain zebras are located in the mountainous regions of southwest Africa, live in small family groups and are considered an endangered species. They are distinguished from the other varieties of zebra by a fold of skin on the neck called a dewlap and are the smallest of the zebras measuring less than 4 feet tall at the shoulder. Hartmann's zebra is a subspecies of the Mountain zebra.
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| Mountain zebras area |
A Zebra's Diet
Zebras are herbivores feeding primarily on 50 different kinds of grasses. They have strong incisor |
| Two Common or Burchell's Zebras Grazing Among Wildflowers poster |
Breeding and Baby Zebras
Female
zebras, or mares, mature much earlier than males and may have their
first offspring around the age of three. Males are not ready to breed
until around age five or six. The gestation period is approximately 12
to 13 months before a mare will give birth to one beautiful striped
bundle of joy.
Posters: Zebras Poster Art Print - Zebra And Baby, Kevin Schafer (12 x 9 inches)
- Baby zebras are called foals and are born with brown and white stripes rather than black and white.
- Just like horses, foals are able to stand, walk and nurse shortly after they're born. They will be running alongside Momma within an hour after birth.
- Foals begin eating grass just three days after they're born but are not fully weaned for 11 months.
- Foals eat some of the adult's dung for about three and a half months for the bacteria which is necessary to digest food.
- Mares are extremely protective of their offspring and can become aggressive toward other zebras in the herd. They spend a lot of time sniffing and licking their foal.
- A mother recognizes her foal by smell for the first several days and then will know it by sight based on its unique stripe pattern.
Watch this newborn zebra
Zebras In The Wild / Zebras In Captivity
More interesting facts about zebras
Zebras may live for 28 years but for many their lifespan in the wild is shortened to an average of 12 years due to predators. They are very fast and can reach a speed of 40 miles an hour on hard-packed ground. Although they have a strong vicious kick, they are defenseless against their principal enemy, the lion. Because they are curious, zebras are easy prey for hunters who kill them for their meat and their hides which make durable striking leather. They are also threatened by different types of environmental changes mainly due to changes in ranching and farming.Zebras do well in captivity and can be seen in nearly all zoos and circuses. In the wild they travel in bands ranging in size from about ten to hundreds of individuals. They sometimes join herds of other grass-eating animals such as the antelope, giraffe and wildebeest. Although diseases of domestic cattle have killed thousands of zebras, they are resistant to African diseases that are fatal to horses. For this reason, attempts have been made to tame zebras and to cross them with horses. Tame zebras, however, have proved to be stubborn, like mules, and untrustworthy. Successful mating between zebras and horses is possible, producing zebroses or horsebras, but hybridization does not appear to be practical.
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