Zebra

Species

There are three species of zebra: plains, Grevy's and mountain. Six subspecies of plains zebra have been described but genetic studies argues against this. There are 2 subspecies of mountain zebra.

Equus quagga burchelli
Equus quagga boehmi
Equus quagga selousi
Equus quagga borensis
Equus quagga chapmani
Equus quagga crawshayi
Equus grevyi
Equus zebra zebra
Equus zebra hartmannae

Burchell's zebra
Grant's zebra (smallest plains zebra subspecies)
Selous' (mostly found in Mozambique)
maneless (northern most plains zebra)
Chapman's zebra
Crawshay's
Grevy's zebra (Kenya)
Cape mountain zebra (parts of South Africa)
Hartmann's zebra (mainly Namibia)

Population

Overall, the zebra species is classified as near threatened. The IUCN, in 2016, estimated the number of plains zebras at 150,000-250,000. The mountain zebra was assessed in 2018 as being vulnerable with numbers increasing (about 35,000 zebra) and Grevy's Zebra (in 2016) endangered with a stable population around 2,000.

Size

Plains zebras stand about 1.5m to the shoulder. They weigh up to 350kg.
The largest species is the Grevy's zebra (they weigh 350-450 kg).
The smallest species is the mountain zebra, which are about 1.28m tall at the shoulder and weigh 230-260kg.

Habitat & distribution

Plains & Grevy's zebras are found in grasslands and savannas.
Mountain zebras have adapted to live in mountainous conditions and are agile climbers.

Black with white stripes or white with black stripes?

Zebra actually have black skin so they are black with white stripes. They have both black and white fur. What's the purpose of their stripes? Firstly, for camouflage in long grass or amongst trees. Secondly, the stripes confuse predators. Lions are colourblind and a herd of running zebra confuses the lion, making it hard for it to focus on a single zebra. Thirdly, stripes may have evolved to keep biting insects away as the monochrome pattern isn't handled well by the visual systems of flies.
A zebra's coat is great at dissipating heat (70%).

Diet

They are pioneer grazers - they prepare the plains for specialized grazers, such as wildebeest and several antelope species. Zebra are not picky eaters and will also eat leaves and young trees.
Zebra migrate from the Serengeti Plains, Tanzania north to Kenya - a distance of 290km. However, it was discovered that the longest land migration were zebras in the northern region of the Chobe river, Namibia. They make a 480km trek south to Botswana's Nxai Pan National Park in early December.

Interesting facts

Like our fingerprints, each zebra's stripes are unique. Within each species and subspecies, there are differences in stripe patterns. Grant's plain zebra have broad, well defined black stripes and Burchell's zebra (pictured) have a brown/faded stripe between the black stripes. Their stripes often do not go all the way down their legs. The Burchell's zebra is the only zebra that is legally allowed to be farmed for meat.
Grevy's zebra have large ears and narrow stripes which are closer together.
Both the Grevy's and mountain zebras have white stomachs.

Group

A herd of zebra can be called a dazzle or a zeal. Zebra also form harems comprising a dominant male (stallion) with up to 6 breeding females (mares) and their young. Dominant males do perform infanticide (where they deliberately kill the offspring of other males so ensure their own young survive).

Breeding & lifespan

The gestation period for a zebra is about 13 months. When foals are born, they can weigh between 25-40 kgs.
In the wild, zebras could live up to 20 years (in captivity, up to 40 years).

Predators & threats

Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs and leopards prey on zebra. Crocodiles also prey on zebra when they are crossing rivers during migrations.
Once hunted for their skins and meat, humans still pose a problem causing habitat loss.