| SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON NAME: |
Grant's zebra, plains zebra, Burchell's zebra |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Perissodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Equidae |
| GENUS SPECIES: |
Equus (horse) burchelli boehmi |
|
|
| |
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
The Grant's zebra has a stout, horse-shaped body with broad vertical dark brown stripes set against white or off-white fur. The vertical stripes continue all the way around belly and become horizontal on the legs, and start to fade on the rump. The mane is erect, unlike a horses', and the ears are large and donkey-like with thick fur inside. |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately 120-140 cm (47-55 in) at shoulder |
|
| WEIGHT: |
Up to 300 kg (660 lbs) |
|
| DIET: |
Grazes on long, coarse grasses |
|
| GESTATION: |
Gestation lasts approximately 11.5-12 months; one offspring |
| NURSING DURATION |
Foals nurse for at least 6 months |
|
| SEXUAL MATURITY: |
About 3 years for females; longer for males |
|
| LIFE SPAN: |
Averages up to 20 years |
|
| RANGE: |
Eastern and southern Africa |
|
| HABITAT: |
Inhabits grasslands |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed |
| CITES |
Not listed |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
|
|
| |
|
| 1. |
There are three living sub-species of plains zebra: the Grant's zebra, Chapman's zebra, and Burchell's zebra. Grant's zebras are the most abundant and widespread of any zebra species or sub-species. |
|
|
| 2. |
Not only does their range differentiate the three sub-species, but their stripes become less distinct on the sub-species found further south in their region. |
|
|
| 3. |
Grant's zebra herds are composed of one stallion with several mares (usually 7-8) and their juvenile offspring. |
|
|
| 4. |
Grant's zebra are very cooperative: a migrating group will adjust their speed to accommodate the slowest member of the herd. |
|
|
| 5. |
Zebra mothers will keep a newborn foal separate from the herd for a period of time long enough for the calf to imprint its mothers stripes (which are unique to her), smell, and call. |
|
|
| 6. |
Within several minutes of its birth, a newborn zebra begins to walk, and within just a few hours is capable of running with the rest of the herd. |
|
|
| 7. |
If forced to face a predator, a zebra will defend itself with powerful kicks. Just one strong, well-placed kick from a zebra is sufficient to kill a predator as large as a hyena. |
|
|
| 8. |
The purpose of a zebra's stripes has long been debated. One theory maintains that a zebra herds' stripes serve to disorient predators that rely on their ability to single out one individual. Another theory is based on the uniqueness of each zebra's set of stripes (no two are the same, like a fingerprint), asserting that herd members use their coat patterns to identify one another. This is thought to be of special importance to young foals, which rely on their mother's rump print for recognition when following behind her during travel. |
|
|
| |
|
| With their sharp teeth and strong digestive systems, zebras are beneficial to other wild grazers because they are able to clear off the tops of coarse grasses that are difficult for other herbivores to digest, thus clearing the ground for the softer vegetation underneath. Zebras are also an important prey source for large carnivores such as lions and hyenas.
Zebras have long been hunted for their coats, sometimes to the point of near endangerment, such as with the Grevy's and Cape mountain zebras. They are also hunted for their meat, and are sometimes killed to minimize competition with domestic livestock.
Due to their close relation to domestic horses, zebras are also susceptible to certain diseases introduced into their native areas by domestic equine stock.
Zebra require much land on which to migrate in search of food, so they are under constant threat from habitat destruction. |
|
