Plains Zebra
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| Name: Zebra |
| Scientific name: Equus burchelli |
| Range: Eastern, Southwestern, and Southern Africa |
| Habitat: open grassy plains, some in mountains |
| Status: some extinct species |
| Diet in the wild: grazing animals, grass |
| Diet in the zoo: |
| Location in the zoo: African Hoof Stock Exhibit |
| Physical description: Height 4-5ft. Zebras can weigh up to 300kg and become up to 2.40 meters long. Each Zebra has its own stripe pattern. Zebras are black with white stripes. |
| General information:
Zebras like to live in long lasting family herds and a stallion controls each family. The stallion defends the herd against potential rivals and predators such as hyenas. A zebra can become up to 20 years old or in a zoo up to 28 years old. |
Special anatomical, physiological or behavioral adaptations:
Each zebra has its own stripe pattern. The zebras recognize each other by their stripe pattern and by their smell. Some species have narrow close set stripes, while others have broader stripes. Zebras like to help groom each other. There are three living species of zebras: Grevy's zebra, Cape Mountain zebra, and the Plains Zebra, which has several subspecies, including the now extinct Quagga. |
| Zebra Trivia
Here is a really neat fact! Did you know that the phylogeny
of equids is the most heavily documented fossil record of evolutionary
development for any animal group?
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| Sources and Related Links
Grzimek, Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 12 Mammals III GORP-Serengeti National Park, Short Grass Plains, Special thanks to Thomson Safaris and Tanzania National Parks for contributing Tanzanian information. Zebras in Africa (right) from Africam |
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Page author: Lori Jennings e mail address- lorijennings@hotmail.com |
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Animated zebra courtesy of Barbara Boesel---http://home.earthlink.net/~bboesel/index.html |
