Zebra is a representative of the subgenus of the genus of horses. It differs from horses in its famous black and white coloration. There is still debate about whether the zebra is white with black stripes or still black with white stripes. Scientists from their studies have found that black skin has pigment, which means that the zebra is inherently black with white stripes.
Scientific classification:
Subgenus: Zebra
Family: Equine
Genus: Horses
Class: Mammals
Order: Equid-hoofed
Type: Chordates
Kingdom: Animals
Domain: Eukaryotes
There are three types of existing zebra: savanna, plain and mountain, which correspond to the habitat of the animal. There is another species of the Quagga zebra, but, unfortunately, this species was completely exterminated by people.
Zebra Quagga
Zebra anatomy
Zebra is a fairly large animal. An adult male can reach an average weight of 300-350 kg. Females of this species weigh slightly less. At the same time, the height of the zebra reaches up to 1.5 meters at the shoulders. The body length of this animal reaches 2-2.5 meters, and the tail has an average length of 50 cm. It has a short and stiff mane.
This striped color is protective for the zebra. It protects against flies and horseflies, which consider the zebra inedible because of its coloration, and also plays an important role in disorienting predators. But this color does not work on lions. On the body of a zebra, the stripes are located vertically, on the sides of the body at an angle, and on the limbs, the stripes are already horizontal. When zebras are in a herd, it is very difficult for a predator to understand where and what part of the animal's body is.
It is also believed that the alternation of black and white stripes on the body of a zebra helps to cool the animal's body due to the circulation of air currents over the stripes of the animal, which are heated in different ways. Zebras have excellent charm and hearing. Each zebra has its own unique and inimitable pattern.
Zebra habitat
Zebras live on mainland Africa. But not in its entire area. These animals are widespread in the savannas of East Africa and to the very south of the continent, in the south of Ethiopia and Sudan. The smallest area of distribution is occupied by a mountain zebra - it covers the high plateaus of South Africa and Namibia, where the altitude is less than 2000 meters above sea level.
Zebra lifestyle
Zebras usually live in small groups. Such a group includes several females with calves and a male who leads this group. Sometimes young males can unite in groups or, on the contrary, lead a solitary lifestyle. Zebras are sleeping while standing. At night they always stay in the group and spend the night all together. This helps them protect themselves from predators. Groups can form herds.
Most often, zebras do not have a permanent location and roam in search of green grass. There were often cases when zebras united with ostriches or wildebeests in herds and roamed together.
Zebra videos:
Zebra is considered to be a very hardy animal, which is why not every predator will have enough teeth. The speed develops by a zebra is not very high, but when running, it constantly zigzags, and since its endurance is quite high, not every predator has enough strength to catch up with it. If, nevertheless, the zebra is caught up, then it rears up and begins to kick, bite and defend itself.
Zebras communicate with each other by neighing and barking sounds. When a zebra is angry, it snorts very loudly. The mood of a zebra can be determined by the ears. If the ears of the zebra are straight, then the animal is calm. If turned back, then the animal is in a state of aggression. If the ears are turned forward, then the zebra is very frightened.
What does a zebra eat?
Zebra is a herbivore. Therefore, her favorite diet is herbs, shrubs, tree bark, branches and leaves. Zebra also eats a lot of fluids. Therefore, groups and herds of zebras often visit watering places.
Breeding zebras
Zebra fertility peaks during the rainy season, from December to March. The zebra bears its young for about 1 year (from 350 to 390 days). Most often, 1 foal is born, but there are also cases when twins are born. After birth, the mother closes her child from other zebras so that the child will remember the mother's unique pattern and never confuse her with another animal again.
The foal is born with a weight of approximately 30 kg. Within 5 minutes, he is able to stand up. The mother feeds the foal with milk for up to 16 months. The female zebra is capable of producing offspring once every three years. At the same time, the female's ability to give birth remains up to 18 years old. At 1.5 years old, the zebra already reaches puberty. Zebras live on average up to 30 years, and in captivity it lasts up to 40 years.
If a zebra is crossed with a horse, then zebroids are obtained, and if with a donkey, then zebrules are born.
Zebroid
Zebrul
Such animals are born partially striped and look more like a horse or a donkey, but are also more aggressive. They are used as pack animals, as well as for riding.
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Zebra (lat. Нirrotigris) - animals from the subgenus Zebra and the genus Horses. Burchell's zebras (Еquus quagga), Grevy's zebras (Еquus grevyi) and mountain zebras (Еquus zebra) are classified as Нirrotigris. The hybrid forms of the zebra and domestic horse that occur today are called zebroids, and zebras and donkeys are called zebras.
Zebra description
According to scientists, about 4.5 million years ago, the Equus line was formed, which became the progenitor of such modern animals as horses, zebras and donkeys. Adult zebras are distinguished by their special grace and bewitching beauty.
Appearance, color
Zebras are among the animals with a medium-sized body with a length of two meters.... The average weight of an adult zebra is about 310-350 kg. The tail is of medium length, within 48-52 cm. Male zebras are larger than females, so the height of such an animal at the withers is often one and a half meters. The uneven-hoofed mammal has a fairly dense and stocky constitution, as well as relatively short limbs, which end in strong and well-developed hooves. Males have special canines that help the animal in the battle for the safety of the entire herd.
It is interesting! Representatives of the Equidae family have a short and stiff mane. The central row of pile is characterized by the passage in the region of the back with a "brush", which runs from the head to the tail.
The neck of a zebra is quite muscular, but thicker in males. An adult zebra is not very fast in comparison with horses, but if desired, such an animal can reach speeds of up to 70-80 km per hour. Zebras run away from their pursuers in peculiar zigzags, so such artiodactyls are practically unattainable prey for many species of predatory animals.
Zebras are distinguished by relatively weak eyesight, but a well-developed sense of smell, which allows them to sense potential danger even at a fairly large distance, as well as timely warn the herd about the threat. The sounds that artiodactyls make can be very diverse: similar to a dog barking, reminiscent of a horse's neighing or a donkey's cry.
Zebra species
The subgenus of Zebra includes only three species of cloven-hoofed mammals:
- Zebra Burchell or savanna(lat. Еquus quаggа or E. burshelli) - is the most common species, named after the famous English botanist Burchell. A feature of the pattern on the skin of the species is the ability to change depending on the habitat, therefore, there are six main subspecies. The northern subspecies are characterized by the presence of a more pronounced pattern, while the southern subspecies are distinguished by a blurred pattern of stripes on the lower part of the body and the presence of beige stripes on the white skin. The size of an adult is 2.0-2.4 m, with an average tail length in the range of 47-57 cm and an animal's height at the withers up to 1.4 m. The average weight of a zebra varies from 290 to 340 kg;
- Zebra Grevy or deserted(lat. E.grevyi), named after the President of France, belongs to the category of the largest animals from the Equidae family. The average body length of Grevy's zebra reaches three meters and weighs more than 390-400 kg. The tail of a desert zebra is about half a meter long. A distinctive specific feature is represented by the predominance of white or whitish-yellow color and the presence of a wide dark stripe running in the middle of the dorsal region. The stripes on the skin are thinner and rather close to each other;
- Mountain zebra(lat. E.zebra) is characterized by a darker color with a predominance of black and white thin stripes reaching on the limbs to the hoof area. The weight of an adult mountain zebra can be 265-370 kg, with a body length within 2.2 m and a height of no more than one and a half meters.
It is interesting! The extinct species includes a subspecies of Burchell's zebra - Quagga (lat.E.quagga quagga), which lived in South Africa and was distinguished by a striped color, complemented by a bay horse color.
Slightly less common are hybrids obtained from crossing a zebra with a domestic horse or a donkey. Hybridization most often involves the use of a male zebra and females from other families. Zebroids in their appearance are more like a horse, but have a partially striped color. Hybrids are, as a rule, quite aggressive, but amenable to training, thanks to which they are used as mounts and beasts of burden.
Habitat, habitats
The main habitat of the Burchella or Savannah zebra is represented by the southeastern part of the African continent. According to the observations of experts, the habitat of the lowland subspecies is the savannas of East Africa, as well as the southern part of the mainland, Sudan and Ethiopia. Grevy's species became quite widespread in the subequatorial belt in eastern Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as Meru. Mountain zebras inhabit the highlands of South Africa and Namibia at an altitude of no more than two thousand meters.
It is interesting! Adult zebras and young animals of such cloven-hoofed animals are very fond of lying in ordinary dust.
Among other things, "striped horses" get along well with a small bird called a bull woodpecker. The birds sit on the zebra and use their beak to select various harmful insects from the skin. Artiodactyls are able to calmly graze in the company of many other harmless herbivores, represented by buffaloes, antelopes, gazelles and giraffes, as well as ostriches.
Zebra Diet
Zebras are herbivores that predominantly feed on a variety of herbaceous plants, as well as bark and shrubs. An adult cloven-hoofed animal prefers to feed on short and green grass that grows in close proximity to the ground. There are some differences in the diet of different species and subspecies of zebra. Desert zebras most often feed on rather coarse herbaceous vegetation, which is practically not digested by many other animals belonging to the Equidae family. Also, these species are characterized by eating fibrous grasses with a rigid structure, including Eleusis.
Desert zebras, massively inhabiting arid regions, actively eat bark and foliage, which is due to the lack of conditions favorable for the growth of the herbaceous cover. The mountain zebra's diet is largely based on grasses, including Themeda triandra and many other common species. Some artiodactyl mammals can eat buds and shoots, fruits and corn stalks, as well as the roots of many plants.
Zebras need a sufficient amount of water every day for full functioning. All representatives of the Equine family spend a significant part of the daytime on natural grazing.
Zebra is a separate species of the horse genus that lives in Africa. There are three types of zebras: desert, plain and mountain.
Plain zebras have chosen the savannahs of the eastern and southern parts of the continent. Mountain zebras live in the southwestern part of the continent, which contains a huge number of high plateaus. Representatives of the desert species inhabit Kenya and Ethiopia. It is worth noting that there are very few desert zebras left, so these animals are listed in the Red Book.
Different species do not interbreed with each other, even when their territories overlap. With artificial crossing of representatives of different species, a large number of miscarriages occur.
Zebra appearance
Zebras are fairly large animals. They can weigh 350 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Representatives of the species reach a height (at the shoulders) of 1.3 meters. Body length varies from 2 to 2.6 meters. The tail is approximately 50 centimeters long.
The color of the fur is an alternation of black and white stripes. It is believed that, after all, a black background is the main one, and white stripes dilute it. On the neck, head and front of the body, the stripes are arranged vertically, on the back of the body they are placed at an angle, and the limbs are decorated with horizontal stripes. Each individual has a strictly individual pattern.
The striped color serves as protection from horseflies and. It also disorients predators, but does not have the same effect on it. Lions successfully hunt zebras. Zebras do not run as fast as horses, but they have amazing endurance. Therefore, not many predators hunt them. In addition, zebras have special tactics, they escape from the pursuer in zigzags, rushing from side to side. It is quite difficult to catch up with the zebra. If a zebra is driven into a corner, then it rears up, kicks and bites. Zebras have an excellent sense of smell, they have superbly developed eyesight and hearing.
Zebra behavior and nutrition
Zebras are social animals. The forms of communication differ depending on the type. Plain and mountain zebras live in family groups, the group is always led by a stallion. Such groups consist of approximately 6 females and foals. Young males unite with each other or lead a solitary lifestyle. Upon reaching adulthood, they also acquire their own harems.
And the plain species does not adhere to permanent social ties. These zebras gather in groups for only a few months, then the group breaks up and a new one is formed. Only females with their babies remain inseparable.
Zebras are sleeping while standing. They always spend the night in groups, so they protect themselves from predators. Representatives of the species communicate with each other by barking and neighing. The mood of the zebra is shown with the help of the ears: in a calm state, the ears are straight, in a state of aggression, the ears go back, and during a fright - forward. When zebras get angry, they snort loudly. When predators appear, they make loud barking sounds.
Listen to the voice of the zebra
The diet of zebras consists of plant foods: leaves, shrubs, branches, a variety of grasses and tree bark.
Reproduction and life expectancy
Zebra is an object of hunting for large predators. Zebras don't have a specific breeding season. Fertility peaks at the beginning of the rainy season, which lasts from December to March. The gestation period is 350-390 days. Females most often give birth to 1 foal, but in rare cases there may be twins. The weight of a newborn is approximately 30 kilograms. The baby almost immediately gets to his feet and follows his mother.
Ecology
Basic:
Zebras are one of the few species of equid-hoofed mammals, which also include horses and donkeys. Unpaired hooves are possibly adaptations for running fast on hard ground. Zebras belong to the horse genus, but among all the representatives of this genus they have the most unusual appearance.
But why do zebras need stripes? When zebras gather together, it is difficult for predators to choose one horse from a pack. Different types of zebras have different types of stripes, from narrow to wide. In fact, the further you travel to the south of the African peninsula, the more different the colors of the zebras will be.
Recent studies have suggested that zebra stripes also help them attract fewer blood-sucking insects.
In height, adult zebras can reach 110 to 150 centimeters, if you do not take into account the head. The weight of zebras can vary greatly depending on the subspecies - from 175 to 380 kilograms. Males are usually 10 percent heavier than females.
Zebra Grevy Is the largest horse species. In the wild, zebras live on average 20-30 years, and in zoos - up to 40 years.
Zebras mainly feed on rough grass, but they can also eat leaves, which make up about 30 percent of their diet. Zebras are social animals that live in small flocks.
Zebras run slower than horses, their maximum speed is 55 kilometers per hour, but they are hardy enough that they can successfully escape from predators. When chasing, zebras can run from side to side, which prevents the predator from catching them. In case of serious danger, the zebra rears up, can kick or bite the offender with force.
If food is abundant in some place, for example, in the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania, zebras prefer to lead a sedentary lifestyle. In arid areas, small groups of zebras can merge into larger ones and migrate together in search of food. Large swarms of zebras can travel 800 kilometers per year during their migrations.
Zebras are very dependent on water, so they prefer not to go far from water bodies, to which they must come to a watering hole at least once a day. It is the responsibility of the oldest mare to lead the herd as they move from place to place, and to ensure that the colony does not move too far from the water.
Habitat:
In the wild, zebras only live in Africa.
Plain zebras live in meadows and are distributed throughout the continent, in places where there are the necessary conditions - grass and water. Mountain zebras live, as the name implies, in mountainous areas in the arid African states of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Grevy's zebras live in shrub and grassy areas in eastern Africa - Kenya and Ethiopia. Antelopes are usually found in the same places, so both species receive additional protection from predators.
Conservation status: Least Concern, but some subspecies are at risk
The population of lowland zebras is of least concern, although the number of these animals has declined dramatically over the past 100 years.
The reasons for the disappearance of zebras are the following: sports hunting for zebras, as well as hunting for valuable skins, the loss of the most suitable territories for animals due to population growth.
Due to the fact that livestock eats grass in pastures, wildlife animals are severely affected. Zebras cannot compete with the growing number of livestock, and their territory is occupied by farmers who grow crops.
There have been several unsuccessful attempts to domesticate the zebra several times over the past couple of centuries.
With the help of a special project, scientists from South Africa are trying to restore the extinct subspecies of zebra - quagga.
In ancient Rome, Grevy's zebras were called "hippotigris" and trained to learn how to draw cards in the circus.
Zebras in a herd look very similar, but the location and shape of the stripes is different, just like a person's fingerprints differ. Scientists can identify individuals by comparing their coloration, stripe width, color, and scarring.
Zebras have black skin underneath their fur, so many claim that zebras have white stripes on a black background, however others dispute this claim.
Zebra: interesting facts, photos and a short description for writing a report or presentation for children in grades 2-3-4.
Habitat
Zebras live in desert areas. The natural environment for them is the dry savannahs of East Africa, Somalia, Kenya. Also found in the highlands and lowlands of Ethiopia.
In the recent past, the zebra population was completely exterminated in the territories of North Africa. Initially, zebras lived in the vastness of the entire African continent.
Appearance
Outwardly, a zebra strongly resembles a horse, but it has a specific color. Black and white stripes cover the body of the animal from tail to head, partially covering the legs. This pattern is a disguise for the zebra, which helps it hide from predators.
The weight of a zebra reaches 450 kilograms. Body length ranges from 2 to 2.4 meters. Tail length 45-58 centimeters.
Reproduction and life expectancy
Zebra gestation period lasts from 345 to 390 days. One foal is always born. Immediately after birth, the baby is at risk, but his instincts force him to stand on his legs after the first 10-15 minutes of life.
The foal will be with its mother for the first 8-13 months, as it needs to be fed and protected. At the age of 3 years, a young zebra is ready to live independently, and is no longer attached to its mother.
Behavior and nutrition
The zebra's diet consists mainly of herbaceous plants. Zebras live in herds, as this increases the chances of survival. The herd is a well-coordinated mechanism, in which there is always a leader and an experienced mare, who is responsible for watering and other routine matters.
The leader is rather passive about the performance of his duties. Therefore, in fact, the herd obeys the mare. When the herd gathers somewhere, the mare always goes first, followed by the rest of the zebras. At the end of this column is the leader, who monitors the safety of the whole herd.
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