Zebra belongs to Equidae family, members
of horse family and are odd-toed ungulates. Zebras are native to
eastern, southern and south western Africa. They are very much
popular because of their black and white stripes. They are
generally a social animal and can be considered as pets. Zebras
are generally 2.5metres (8.5 feet) long and weigh around
300-420kg.
Scientific Information
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Perissodactyla
Subgenus:
Hippotigris
Family:
Equidae
Genus:
Equus
Physical Description of Zebra: As one of the great survivors,
Zebras have excellent eyesight, a keen sense of smell and are capable of
running 40 mph. Every zebra has its own pattern of stripes (which makes
it easier for researchers). Zebra belong to the family Equidae, hoofed
animals characterized by one toe. This includes all horses and
horse-like animals of the world. This single hoof is probably an
adaptation for fast motion on hard ground.
Reproductive System: A female zebras mature earlier than the
male zebra and a mare may have her first foal by the age of three.
However, Males are not able to breed until they attain the age of five
or six. Mares may give birth to one foal every twelve months. Like
horses, zebras are able to stand and walk shortly after they're born. A
zebra foal has brown and white stripes instead of black and white at
birth. Zebras inhabit open, grassy plains or well-grassed woodlands.
They can also be found on mountain slopes up to 14,500 feet (4,420 m).
Existing wild species include the Asian wild horse, Asian and African
wild asses, and zebras (found only in Africa). Species of zebra include
the
Grevy's zebra the mountain zebra , the extinct quagga zebra and the
plains (Damara or Burchell) zebra named after naturalist W. J. Burchell.
Zebras are extremely social animals that share their range
with a wide variety of other grazers and browsers, particularly
wildebeest, kongoni, gazelles, Oryx and other antelopes. They live
throughout eastern and southern Africa. Their home ranges vary in size
from 12-240 square miles (31-622 sq. km). Plains zebra rely almost
totally on a variety of grasses, along with some additional browse like
leaves and twigs.
As one of the great survivors, Zebras have excellent eyesight, a keen
sense of smell and are capable of running 40 mph. Every zebra has its
own pattern of stripes (which makes it easier for researchers). Zebra
belong to the family Equidae, hoofed animals characterized by one toe.
This includes all horses and horse-like animals of the world. This
single hoof is probably an adaptation for fast motion on hard ground.
Zebras inhabit open, grassy
plains or well-grassed woodlands. They can also be found on
mountain slopes up to 14,500 feet (4,420 m). Existing wild
species include the Asian wild horse, Asian and African wild
asses, and zebras (found only in Africa). Species of zebra
include the Grevy's zebra the mountain zebra , the extinct
quagga zebra and the plains (Damara or Burchell) zebra named
after naturalist W. J. Burchell.
