Zebras: A Comprehensive Overview

Zebras are African mammals distinguished by their iconic black and white stripes, which serve to deter biting horseflies. The scientific consensus is that zebras are fundamentally black with white stripes.

Taxonomy and Appearance

As members of the Equidae family, zebras exhibit an equine-like appearance, complete with long legs and a mane along their neck. Each zebra’s stripe pattern is unique, akin to human fingerprints.

Zebra 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, 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 wilderness have used zebras’ 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. 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 tasselled tail, and bristly mane—is universal.

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Zebras Habitat and Distribution

Zebras inhabit diverse African ecosystems, including savannahs, grasslands, and mountainous regions. Their habitat preferences are species-dependent, with different zebra species occupying distinct geographical areas.

Zebras Species and Identification

There are three recognised species of zebra:

Plain Zebra (Equus quagga)

The most common species is characterised by wide, widely spaced stripes. They inhabit grasslands across eastern and southern Africa.
Plains zebra is the most geographically widespread equine on earth. While in some parts they live a sedentary lifestyle, in other regions like Serengeti they migrate in response to the availability of water. Plains zebras are herbivores. They obtain their food by grazing. They feed selectively on certain species of grass. The conspicuous plains zebras are often the 1st to enter and colonize well-vegetated areas of grassland. They can even survive upon coarse vegetation with little nutritional value as a result of a hindgut digestive system. After they trample the grass, the wildebeests and gazelles tend to move in gradually. The removal of such tougher growth of grass from savannas plays an ecological role in allowing other grazers to gain access to tender growth. Due to the constant grinding of food, its back teeth continue to grow throughout its life.

Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi)

Noted for their narrower stripes, Grevy’s zebras are the most threatened species. They are found in dry, sparsely wooded Kenya and southern Ethiopia.
In 1882, the then Emperor of Abyssinia considered the zebra so regal that he presented a zebra to the President of France whose name was Jules Grevy. This led to the coining of the word Grevy zebra. It is the most beautiful of zebras. The pattern of its hide is like a painting. The World Conservation Union lists them as an endangered species. Grevy zebra has an open society where other males are tolerated within the area as long as they don’t interfere with the dominant male’s breeding activities. The 2 most stable relationships they have are a mare’s attachment to its young and a stallion’s attachment to his territory.

Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra)

Mountain zebras are mostly active early in the morning and late afternoon until sunset. They visit mineral licks, especially during summer. Like other zebra species, mountain zebras are mainly grazers. Their pointed ears reach 8 inches in length. Their manes of short hair stand upright from their necks. Mountain zebras take part in mutual grooming and usually take a dust bath daily. They have 4 single-toed hooves. They have vertical stripes on the torso and neck as well as horizontal ones on the haunches.

Found in South Africa, Namibia, and Angola, they can survive in more rugged, mountainous terrain and escarpment areas up to 2000 meters above sea level. Their stripes are narrower and more closely spaced.

Dimorphism and Size

Male Grevy’s zebras are larger than females, whereas plains and mountain zebras exhibit little sexual dimorphism in size. Grevy’s zebras are the largest, standing 1.24 to 1.6 meters (4.1 to 5.3 feet) at the shoulder and weighing 350 to 450 kilograms (750 to 1,000 pounds). Mountain zebras are slightly smaller and lighter, aiding their navigation of rugged terrain. Plains zebras are similar in size to mountain zebras, with an average shoulder height of 1.1 to 1.5 meters (3.6 to 4.8 feet) and a weight range of 175 to 400 kilograms (380 to 850 pounds).

Zebra’s Reproduction and Lifecycle

As mammals, zebras give birth to live young and nurse them with milk. Following approximately 11 to 13 months gestation, females typically birth a single foal, which can stand and walk shortly after birth. The mother primarily raises the young with support from the herd.

Ecological Role

Zebras are vital for ecosystem balance, acting as ‘pioneer grazers’ whose grazing prevents the overgrowth of certain plant species, fostering biodiversity. As herbivores, their diet consists primarily of leaves, shrubs, and small trees. Zebras are keystone species, crucial for the survival of their habitat. They facilitate the growth of nutrient-dense grasses by consuming taller, less digestible plants, benefiting smaller herbivores.

Predation and Defense

Zebras are important prey for carnivores such as lions, hyenas, and crocodiles. Their speed and agility are critical defence mechanisms, and they typically live in large herds for protection.