Zebra is an animal that is a close relative of wild horses, donkeys, tapirs and rhinos. The name was borrowed from the natives and does not have an exact meaning. Today there are three species of this animal and the quagga, which was completely destroyed by man.
Zebra - characteristics and description
Zebra (Hippotigris) is a primitive species of the equine family. Belongs to mammals, is a member of the equid order. Includes a combination of a donkey and a horse.
The size of the animal is up to 2 m in length and weighs up to 355 kg. Height from 1.35 to 1.55 m. The male is larger than the female.
The legs are shorter and thicker than those of ordinary horses with large, reliable hooves, the head is heavy and large. The similarities with a donkey are long ears and a tail with a tassel at the end (50 cm).
The mane is erect, with short, coarse hair extending from head to tail. Contrasting color - white and black transverse stripes throughout the body. Colors may vary slightly depending on the breed of zebra. The neck is muscular and large.
Zebras are not as fast as horses, but if necessary, they can reach speeds of up to 85 km / h. During the pursuit, the zebra begins to run in zigzags in order to confuse the enemy. This tactic makes the animal a difficult prey, which many predators refuse after a few minutes of chase.
The poor eyesight of an individual is fully compensated for by an excellent sense of smell, which helps to sense danger from afar and warn your herd.
The animal, depending on the situation, makes peculiar sounds, similar to the barking of dogs, the screams of a donkey, the neighing of a horse.
The life expectancy of a donkey in favorable conditions of the wild is up to 30 years. In captivity, this figure rises to 40 years.
Zebra species
Zebra has several types:
Savannah (Equus quagga or Equus burchelli) or Burchell's zebra
This animal got its name from the famous English scientist botanist William Burchell.
The color depends on where the zebra lives. The species is divided into 4 subspecies, which are distributed throughout Southeast Africa:
- Zebra Chapmana, habitat South Angola, Transylvania. It is distinguished by narrow stripes along the body, not reaching the hooves.
- Zebra Boehme, Granta has a small amount of dark stripes on the neck. It is common in northern Africa.
- Burchell's zebra itself has been exterminated.
The savannah variety is distinguished by small ears, the absence of a breastplate. Black stripes on the rump are woven into a grid.
Size up to 2.7 m in length, up to 1.46 m in height. Weight can reach 345 kg.
Food: cereals. Hardly tolerates drought, in search of water can migrate to forest, mountainous areas. No more than 10 individuals live in family herds.
Grevy's desert zebra (Equus grevyi)
The specimen got its name in honor of Jules Grevy, the President of France, who at the end of the nineteenth century was presented with a gift from the rulers of Abyssinia in the form of a striped horse.
The animal is large, body length up to 3.1 m, weight over 405 kg. The color is dominated by light colors. There is a wide black belt in the middle of the back. The rest of the stripes are thin and located close to each other, not reaching the abdomen, where they are absent. Rounded ears are brown.
The habitat is the eastern part of Africa. Where the zebra lives, desert terrain prevails.
Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra)
The color of the individual is distinguished by the predominance of dark tones. Large black stripes alternate with thin white stripes, reaching to the hooves. Mountain zebra weighs a maximum of 375 kg, the length of the animal reaches 2.3 meters, the height is up to 1.6 m.
- Mountain Zebra Cape. Protected by the South African states from complete extermination. At the beginning of the 20th century, the individual became the smallest. There are thin black stripes on the head, which are absent on the animal's belly. Maximum height up to 131 cm, weight - 266 kg.
- Hartmann's mountain zebra. The individual also dies out due to human fault: farmers are actively shooting them, protecting the pastures of their livestock. Over the past 17 years, the population has decreased by 7 times and today does not exceed 16,000 individuals. The mountainous regions of Nambia, where zebras live, are the main sources of food and their breeding area. The Hartmann mountain zebra is distinguished by narrow dark stripes and larger dimensions than its relative, the Cape individual. The height of the animal is 1.6 m, weight is more than 355 kg.
This type of animal has several names:
- asshole;
- dewy;
- zebrules;
- zebra-pony;
- zebroid.
The specimen appeared in 1815. To obtain a species, a male zebra is crossed with a mare or a donkey. The variety is more like a horse with an unusual color. Hybrids are aggressive, but trainable.
Quagga (Equus quagga quagga)
This burchella zebra is now extinct. Researchers claim that the individual had a striped color in front and a bay in the back. The body length reached 185 cm. Tamed quagga were used by humans to guard herds. The last individual died in 1883 at the zoo in the capital of Holland.
Where does the zebra live? Habitat
Africa is the only continent where zebras live. Each species has its own area of residence:
- Burchells live in the steppes and shrouds in the southeast of the continent: Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, South Sudan, Mozambique.
- Gravy lives in the desert regions of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia.
- Mountain Zebra occupies Nambia, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
Plains, mountains, deserts, forests - these are the places where the zebra can live comfortably, unless a person disrupts their normal life.
What does a zebra eat?
The habitat can tell about what the animal eats, most often it is:
- grass;
- bark of trees;
- plant roots;
- foliage of shrubs;
- tree buds;
- young shoots.
The stomach of an animal has a simple structure and a large number of protozoa live in it, which help to process fiber, and over time supply the animal with vitamins and proteins.
The zebra's diet is low in calories, which forces the animal to eat all day. Water also plays a very important role, since the individual does not tolerate thirst and must drink at least once a day. This is especially true for lactating females who constantly need water.
If the usual places of watering, such as rivers, lakes dry up, the zebra independently digs holes, wells, in which water accumulates after rains or penetrates from underground currents.
In the driest times, animals move to places where there are green pastures and watering places, sometimes for this they have to overcome huge distances.
Zebra lifestyle
The animal lives in herds, where the head is one male, next to which several females live. The head of the family is the main guarantor of peace and safety for his mares and offspring. He fiercely defends his herd and sometimes enters into unequal battles with predators.
At these moments, a peaceful zebra becomes a fierce fighter and shows a strong character, disposition and justified aggression.
Animals are distinguished from each other by:
- smell;
- voice;
- patterns on the body.
The main feature of a relative of a horse is that she sleeps while standing. To do this, all individuals of the herd huddle together to protect themselves from predators.
Interesting facts about zebras: the mood of an animal can be determined by the ears. In a peaceful and good mood, the ears are erect. During the manifestation of fear, they are directed forward, anger - backward. The aggression of the animal is manifested by a nervous snort. When a predator approaches, the zebra begins to make a barking sound. It is very difficult to tame an individual.
The zebra color is her passport. It has been proven that each individual has its own individual, unique pattern, which is never repeated in another similar animal. The special arrangement and size of the stripes helps the foal to find its mother, and the adult animal to distinguish one zebra from another.
What color the zebra is, sometimes it is very difficult to say. Its striping is a special sign that gives rise to controversy: the zebra is white or still black.
Many zoologists have come to the conclusion that bright color is not a way of disguising, but on the contrary a method of attracting attention in order to more easily navigate pastures. This helps not to clump together in one place, but to be evenly distributed over the entire area. The stripes are the insignia of each herd, along which the boundaries of their residence are marked.
In fact, the main color of a zebra is black, this was shown by special studies of animals at the embryonic level. A dark background occurs against a background of pigmentation, and white streaks appear due to its absence.
The color of the zebra has raised many questions for a long time, not only among ordinary people, but also among scientists. There were many hypotheses, but none of them was confirmed.
To date, British researchers have found that extremely bright colors scare off horseflies.
Color helps to find out the habitat of the animal:
- Zebras from the northern plains - white and black stripes;
- animals from the southern savannas - stripes are black - gray, sometimes chestnut.
In some zebras, the black stripes merge to form a mottled pattern. Foals are born with a reddish-brown color.
Enemies in the wild
The main dangerous enemy of the zebra is the African lion, who loves the meat of this animal very much and considers it a delicacy. Most often, a predator watches its prey on the way to a watering place or looks for young individuals who have strayed from the herd.
Also, a zebra can become a victim:
In times of danger, a relative of a horse can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h, which does not always allow predators to feast on their delicious meat. Zebra is able to run very dexterously in zigzags, confusing even very experienced hunters.
The zebra defends itself with the help of powerful hooves, with which it hits the enemy with all the strength, sometimes such a blow can be fatal. Also, the animal bites very painfully.
Breeding zebras
The female begins to flow in late spring - summer. During this period, she begins to place her hind limbs and retract her tail in order to show her readiness for the breeding process.
The pregnancy of an animal lasts for about a year, and childbirth may coincide with the period of conception. After the birth of the foal, the female can become pregnant again in a week. Zebra produces offspring once a year.
The female gives birth to one baby:
- height 81 cm;
- weight 31 kg.
Half an hour, an hour after birth, the foal gets to its feet, and after a few weeks it begins to eat grass in small quantities on its own.
Feeding with milk lasts about a year. Zebras with young offspring become a separate herd. Up to three years old, the cubs stay in one group, otherwise they will become easy prey for predators. At the age of 1 to 3 years, young males are expelled from the herd so that he can form his own family.
Male zebras become sexually mature by age three and females by age two. Zebra's childbearing age lasts up to 18 years.
The female's milk has an unusual pink color. It is very important for the foal, as it contains all the necessary substances, minerals, vitamins for the proper development, growth of the baby and strengthening its immunity. The zebra produces as much milk as the foal needs. It also helps the intestines to function fully without causing problems for the baby.
At first, the female very much protects the baby and, sensing danger, hides him in the herd in order to take advantage of the help of relatives.
Most often, an animal in captivity is in a zoo and its maintenance is completely similar to caring for wild horses:
- kept in sheltered stalls;
- regular horse food is offered as food;
- control overeating.
Animals should not be given human food, especially bread, cornflakes, chips, sugar lumps. Such food provokes a number of diseases and shortens the life of the individual.
Zoo workers periodically trim their hooves, since in captivity the animal cannot fully grind them off on its own, which leads to severe torment and pain.
They try to keep adult males separately so that they do not behave aggressively towards each other. Hybrids are used on the farm like ordinary horses or donkeys and are kept in the same way.
Zebra is called not only representatives of the equine family. It can be exotic fish and a popular snail, which received the prefix zebra in their names because of their unusual, bright color.
Zebra is a beautiful, unique animal that has the following features:
- in the animal family, it is customary to observe a strict hierarchy;
- while resting, several zebras work as sentries, monitoring the safety of the entire flock;
- it is believed that stripes of zebras are needed so that they cannot be visually distinguished from the crowd of lions;
- males have special fangs that help them in battles for the safety of the herd;
- Tsetse flies cannot attack the animal, as they are knocked down by the flickering stripes;
- the stomach of a zebra is designed in a special way, which allows it to eat very rough food that is not suitable for other herbivores.
And these are not all interesting facts about the zebra. The animal is distinguished by its special beauty and grace, which not only fascinates, but also arouses admiration. Unfortunately, a person not only admires this individual, but also takes part in its extinction.
In North Africa, they were already exterminated in antiquity. Today's range of the most common plain zebras covers the south of Sudan and Ethiopia, the savannahs of East Africa down to the south of the continent. Deserted zebra found in the dry savannas of East Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Who are zebras?
Zebras, referred to in Latin as Hippotigris are a subgenus of wild horses. This subgenus, in turn, branches into several currently existing species:
- Burchell's zebra, she is savanna (Equus quagga);
- Grevy's zebra, or desert (Equus grevyi);
- mountain zebra (Equus zebra).
Mixed forms, obtained by crossing wild striped form with a domestic horse, it is customary to call "zebroids", that is, zebra-like. The offspring from crossing with donkeys are called zebrules. The nomadic life of herbivores proceeds in groups, the composition of which resembles traditional lion prides: one adult stallion takes care of several females and their cubs of different ages. Cubs are named the same as horse cubs - foals.
Zebra structure
Zebra description in its simplest form may look like a "striped horse". Indeed, related ungulates have much in common. Zebras, like horses, are equid-hoofed animals - the body weight mostly falls on the third finger of a limb, shod in a horny "shoe". Strong hooves are designed to protect the toes of the animal while walking and running.
Animal growth determined by the height at the withers, in an adult zebra, it can reach from 120 to 140 cm. This splendor is complemented by a long mobile half-meter tail. The mass of a wild horse varies depending on the species, as well as the age and sex of the animal, since the males are somewhat larger. As a result, the weight range is between 175 and 450 kg.
The pattern formed by stripes on the skin is strictly individual... There is an explanation for this: at birth, the foal must remember its mother in order to soon follow only her. As a rule, the female covers him from the rest of the herd for some time, giving her child the opportunity to study the pattern on her body. Since the skin of the animal is smooth, to the human eye, the lines formed chaotically by color sometimes resemble a hand-made drawing. Zebras have a short, stiff mane, even a mane only vaguely similar to that of a horse.
What is the difference?
Although to an unsophisticated eye, all livestock seem the same, the appearance of animals differs depending on where the wild horse lives.
Typical coloring, black and white stripes, varies from north to south: northern zebras boast full-fledged black long stripes, which is especially noticeable near the ridge, while the southern ones remain brownish camouflage of short, uneven strokes.
The answer to the question, what color is the zebra does not seem straightforward. Nevertheless, it exists. White stripes form a pattern on the black hide - so the African horse is black, except for the white stripes themselves. On the front of the body, the stripes are vertical, then gradually tilt, and the legs of the zebra are painted horizontally.
Why would a zebra striped suit?
Some scholars believe that all the ancestors of modern horses were once decorated with stripes. For quite a long time, biologists have been making assumptions about what the stripes are for herbivores.
Predator camouflage hypothesis
Most often, it has been suggested that this is a variant of patronizing coloring intended for such a trivial purpose as disguise. Such a hypothesis looked plausible, since a wavering haze hangs in the heated daytime air of the savanna, the outlines of stationary objects tremble and merge. Accordingly, grazing herds have some chance of becoming less visible to predators.
but the main hunters of the savannah- lions, more precisely, lionesses. If patronizing coloration helped where the zebra lives, some lionesses would definitely have to become vegetarians. But this does not happen: big cats are excellent hunters and similar quirks of nature are clearly not able to confuse them.
Insect protection hypothesis
Further observations led scientists to believe that stripes do have a masking function, but its purpose is not at all to protect against predators. The hoofed animals of the savannah have no less dangerous enemies than the predators - these are insects. Stinging flies, in addition to annoying bites, are capable of annoying herbivores, infecting them with a dangerous fever. For example, the cattle of the middle lane have no protective coloration and in the hot season they are literally covered with clouds of horseflies. So it is thanks to the characteristic stripes that some individuals avoid part of the insects.
Where can you find an animal?
Areas of all currently existing species lie in the vastness of Africa:
Habits and features
Wild ungulates are rebellious and do not lend themselves to taming... The most developed sense of the animal is the sense of smell, which allows you to smell the signs of danger in advance: for example, by the subtle smell of a lion coming from the windward side, the whole herd rushes to run, as if on command. Due to poor vision, they cannot always recognize a threat in time. In nature, they are often ruined by curiosity, leading animals to potentially dangerous places.
Often the herd cooperates with herds of other ungulates, for example, wildebeest. In addition, wild African horses can use the observation capabilities of ostriches. A similar phenomenon is understandable: the larger the herd, the higher the feeling of safety for each of the heads of the herd. Cooperation has obvious advantages: ungulates use a developed sense of smell, ostriches are farsighted, which is greatly facilitated by the view opening from the height of the long neck. Such adaptations to the environment, although they do not make the zebra more difficult prey than horned antelopes or heavy buffaloes, however, significantly increase the chances of survival: some individuals live up to almost 30 years.
Zebras are among the most beautiful creatures that inhabit Africa. People know their famous stripes on the body and cannot decide in any way whether they are white with black stripes or still black and white.
Here are some facts you may not know about these striped animals.
1. They are actually white with black or dark brown stripes. However, the skin under the coat is black.
2. There are different types of zebras, which differ in the shape of their stripes. Animals that live in the mountains usually have vertical stripes on their neck and torso and horizontal stripes on their legs.
3. While running, animals move in a zigzag fashion. This makes it harder for a predator to catch them.
4. The pattern on the body of the zebra is special and is not repeated in any other individual. This makes them as unique as snowflakes.
5. The black and white striped pattern of their cover is a good protection from insects that nature has given them. Blindflies and other bloodsuckers stay away from him.
6. Zebras live in herds.
7. Representatives of the national American culture regard zebras as a symbol of balance and confidence on the way.
8. The word "zebra" in Swahili sounds like "punda milla".
9. The Romans used zebras to pull circus carts.
10. In Roman circuses, the zebra was usually called "tiger-horse" or "horse-tiger".
A few more facts ...
11. If they encounter predators, they form a semicircle and attack or drive them back if they come closer. They also surround an injured family member to protect him if the need arises.
12. The mother zebra isolates the foal from other herd members for several days until he gets used to her scent, voice and appearance.
13. Zebras in the herd have their own hierarchy. The main place is occupied by the male, followed by the "harem" (group of females).
14. If the herd travels, then all individuals are led by the male. At the same time, he lowers his head and pulls his ears back.
15. Zebras come together to confuse predators that do not have color vision (eg lions).
16. Zebras are one of the few mammals that are considered to have color vision.
17. In fact, zebras are not tall, their height can reach from one to one and a half meters.
18. Grevy's zebra is named after French President Jules Grevy (1882), who received it as a gift from the Emperor of Abyssinia.
19. Another name for Grevy's zebras is imperial zebras.
20. Zebra speed - 65 km / h.
And besides ...
21. As a rule, zebras do not lie down while sleeping. They are standing.
22. Zebras can rotate their ears in almost any direction. They use this ability to keep in touch with the rest of the herd.
23. A zebra has one toe on each leg.
24. These animals cannot see orange.
25. There is a species of zebras called Asinus Burchelli. They got this name after the conflict between William John Burshel and John Edward Gray. Burshel brought one of these zebra back to the British Museum, but the zebra died. To embarrass Burchel, Gray gave the zebras the name Burchelli’s Ass.
Zebra belongs to the equine family of the equid order of the mammalian class. These animals live in groups - herds. There is only one adult male in one herd. All other “participants” are females with calves. The male is the leader and is the father of all foals. But it is not the male who leads the herd, but the most adult female. Her cubs follow her, and then the rest of the females with their foals.
Newborn minke whales begin to walk within 20 minutes after birth. And after 45 minutes they are already briskly jumping and running after mom. They reach maturity at 1-1.5 years. Young males at this age or a little later (up to 3 years) leave their herd, first falling into bachelor groups or keeping alone. They acquire their herd at the age of 5-6. Young females begin to bear offspring at the age of 2.5 years.
Like all herbivores, zebras flee from danger. The main thing is to see the enemy, the lion. Therefore, they willingly accept other animals into their society: antelopes, giraffes, gazelles and even ostriches. The more eyes there are, the more chances you have to notice the danger and retreat in time.
Evolutionary stripes. probably also served as a disguise from predators: because of them, it is more difficult to assess the outline of the body. According to another hypothesis, the stripes appeared as a means of camouflage from horseflies and tsetse flies, which, as a result of such coloring, perceive the zebra as a flickering of white and black stripes.
Each zebra has a unique set of stripes, like fingerprints, unique to each person. Thanks to him, the foal remembers its mother. Therefore, after the birth of a baby, a zebra mom closes it with her body from other zebras for some time.
Video: Zebras pioneers. (A colorful series about animals - "Alone with Nature".)
TV series for children - all about animals [Plains zebras]
The Living Encyclopedia: African Elephants, Monkeys, Zebras
Beautiful photos and pictures with zebras.
It is necessary to immediately determine that in one word to the question: "Where do zebras live?" you will not answer. Because these animals are divided into species, and each has its own. In addition, they differ from each other in complexion and color. The largest are the desert graves. Others are smaller.
What continent does the zebra live on?
These animals have mastered only the space of Africa. Moreover, the area of their natural habitat is quite large. So, there is a species that lives in an arid area. This is a desert zebra. The name of the species speaks for itself and suggests, they are found in Ethiopia. Found in the arid plains of Kenya and Somalia. The animals are adapted to live in areas with sparse vegetation. They tolerate hot periods well, when they have to look for food, moving from place to place. Smaller than other mountain zebra. It is found in the vastness and in Angola. This species is endangered. The number of individuals does not exceed 700 heads. Most often found in nature She lives in the savannas in the east and south of the continent.
Lifestyle
Animals are usually kept in small herds. Sometimes lonely zebras adjoin a herd of giraffes. They are defenseless enough. In nature, they are hunted by a lion. He knows exactly where the zebras live. This is his prey. Lions prefer to hunt single or sick animals. Since, despite the relative slowness, the zebra can give a good rebuff to the predator. Among natural enemies, striped horses should also be afraid of hyenas and crocodiles. The latter lie in wait for a defenseless victim near the water.
The leader stands out in the herd. But he provides "general leadership" and ensures the safety of his family. And the older female leads the herd to the watering hole or lush meadows. The family harem consists of several females per male. This is a clear rule. The male will not share the harem with anyone. During the wandering, the leader usually closes up the procession in order to be able to prevent the attack of the enemy.
Extinct species
I must say that this species of animals was thoughtlessly exterminated by Europeans. The zebra hide was highly prized. And the animal could not defend itself from hunters. As a result, one species of zebra was completely exterminated. This is a kawagga who once lived in South Africa. Sand above, and white below, it stood out among its relatives with a special beauty, for which it suffered. Although about a hundred and fifty years ago, the genus of these animals was the most numerous. Hunters preferred kawagg because of the delicious meat and beautiful hide. She was considered an excellent target for sport hunting. The result is deplorable: the last animal of this species died in 1883 at the Amsterdam Zoo. The kawagga was the lightest animal in question. The rest have a gray-black skin.
How many years do zebras live
Nature, unlike humans, is very affectionate to its striped creatures. In their natural environment, they have few enemies. How long do zebras live? Hunters greatly shorten the lifespan of animals. But if no one bothers them, then they quite calmly live up to thirty years. These horses are very peaceful and calm. it is not typical for them. There are cases of male zebras attacking hyenas. This is another of their worst enemies. The male, acting with his hooves and teeth, will drive away the weak predator from his offspring. The growth of the population is due to the rigidity of the "family" arrangement of these animals. The entire herd is divided into clans, each of which consists of a male and several females. Young animals graze with them. The growing male from this society is expelled after a year. He needs to create his own family. Whatever the size of the total herd of animals, the groups do not mix. Each lives its own life, wandering around its territory. Usually zebras do not fight among themselves for pastures and watering places. They exist quite peacefully alongside other families.
It is quite natural that once in the vastness of the African savannah, a person wonders about where zebras live, how to find them. This is especially true when there is no guide. Travelers wishing to admire the colorful beauties should be aware that zebras do not stray far from delicious grass and fresh water. Therefore, it is necessary to look for them where all this wealth is. Often their herds are accompanied by giraffes, which can be seen from afar. Many are interested in why nature endowed these animals with such an original color? There are different opinions on this matter. It is believed that this is a defense mechanism, so to speak. The fact is that such a pockmarked skin is poorly distinguished by the eyes of a predator. The outline of the animal is not visible to a lion or other enemy. It is perceived as a pockmarked spot, which makes it very difficult to attack. Not everyone agrees with this. Especially when you consider that predators hunt at night, when the treacherous streaks stand out clearly in the moonlight. They also cannot protect from the heat, although such assumptions were often put forward. It is interesting that the pattern of each individual is unique. Each species has its own characteristics of color, but the stripes of an individual animal are individual, like fingerprints.
