The zebra is a popular and well-known equine as well as one of the most bizarre-looking. Its odd stripes make it stick out like a sore thumb but might also help it to hide from predators. They comprise of 3 species still alive today, including the Grévy's zebra, the mountain zebra, and the plains zebra. So let's look into these horse-like mammals and see what we can learn about them.
Physical Description and Behavior
Zebras are impossible to miss due to their striking black and white striped body. Each zebra has a slightly different striped pattern, making them all unique. They are about 3 to 5 feet tall and can weigh from 500 pounds all the way up to 1000 pounds.
Fun fact: It is actually a mystery to scientists why zebras have stripes. There are many theories about this, including camouflage from predators, a way to confuse insects, a way for zebras to identify each other, and even a form of natural sunscreen. However, it can possibly be a combination of these reasons and others.
Zebras are very social animals and prefer to be in herds. They travel, eat, and even groom each other in these herds. While herds generally consist of a head stallion, a few females, and their young, some herds may combine with others. It is not uncommon to see massive herds of zebra with hundreds, or even over a thousand strong, all keeping a lookout for predators.
Habitat and Location
All three species of Zebra live in Southern Africa. They prefer more mesic environments and can travel hundreds of miles to find a good water source. Granted, they rarely stray far from a water source once they have found one, and while they can store water for up to a week, will consume water daily if available.
Due to hunting, habitat loss, and a reducing population, all three species of zebra are either considered endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened.
To learn more about zebras, check out this video below:
Comments