Zebra

Zebras are mammals that belong to the horse family.
Today, they live only in Africa.
They feed on tall and rough grasses and move over huge areas as they graze.
They communicate with each other using calls and facial expressions.
They often greet each other with nose-to-nose contact.
There are three species of zebra:
- Common Zebra (Burchell’s),
- Grevy’s zebra, and
- The mountain zebra.
Both Grevy’s and mountain zebras are endangered.

Why Zebras Have Stripes?

They are known for their black and white stripes.
It is not known why they are striped, but it is not for camouflage.
They never hide from predators such as lions or hyenas.
Each species has its own pattern of stripes.
- Burchell’s has broad stripes that are widely spaced.
- Grevy’s stripes are narrow and closely spaced, and the belly is white.
- The mountain zebra has a grid-like pattern of stripes on the rump.
The Best theory that explains why they have stripes is “To get rid of incoming heat” by cooling.

They can run up to 65 KM/H or 40 Mph.
Their stripes are unique like fingerprints.
A group of zebras is called a “Zeal”.
They can sleep standing up.
They run in a zig-zag pattern to make it more difficult for predators to run after them.
They cannot see orange color.
They are wild animals and cannot be domesticated.
Under their stripes, they have black skin.

Type: Mammal
Lifespan: ~20 – 25 years
Size: 3.5-5 ft tall at the shoulder
Weight: 200-450 kg
Habitat: Grasslands, savannas, woodland, mountains, scrubland, and coastal hills
Range: Africa