This means that as they bend down to eat grass they can still watch for lions, or other predators. They also have eyes high up on the sides of their heads. They have long front teeth (incisors) which act like scissors to cut the grass at the root, while their large back teeth (molars) work to grind down the grass. They are well adapted for grazing and staying alert for predators One group of plains zebra was recorded migrating 500km from Namibia to Botswana, which is actually the longest land migration of any African mammal. Plains zebra have the longest recorded migration of any African mammal This migration is around 300 miles and the moving herds contain up to 30,000 zebra. They move from north to south to reach the rainy season in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, before returning back to reach the northern deltas again as the rainy season there returns. Plains zebra mass migrate in Botswana twice a year Other herd animals join in too, such as wildebeest and antelope.ħ. Often as herds are migrating, they form ‘super herds’ with thousands of zebras. Multiple family groups come together to form herds. Plains zebra are the most abundant of the three species and are known for their long migrations, moving to different areas in search of water and grass. Plains zebra migrate and form super herds The males have territories which they protect from others, while females and their foals move freely between these territories. However, the grevy’s zebra lives primarily alone, or in loose herds. These groups usually integrate into larger herds. The plains and mountain zebras stay in family groups, with a dominate male, females and their foals (baby zebras). Different zebra species have different social structures They are generally thought of as white with black stripes, but they are in fact black with white stripes! Zebras have black skin under their hair, too. The age-old question of whether or not zebras are white with black stripes or black with white stripes has finally been answered with science. It’s likely to be a combination of all these things! 2 4. Some theories suggest that the stripes work to keep them cooler, while others show that biting flies don’t like to land on stripes. There have been lots of theories, including that the stripes help confuse predators. No one is completely sure why they have stripes The the grevy’s zebra has the thinnest stripes, while the moutain zebra has vertical stripes on its neck and torso. Studies have shown that the further south on the African plains you travel, the farther apart the stripes of zebras are.Įach species of zebra has different types of stripes, too. Zebra’s stripes are further apart the further south in Africa Scientists have even developed a way to read their stripes like bar codes to be able to identify specific zebras in a heard. Zebras are iconic for their stripes, which are actually unique to each individual, like a human’s fingerprint. Zebras can be found in numerous protected areas and parks, which are aiming to help halt the decline, offer access to water, and increase their chances of survival. Their decline is down to loss of habitat, illegal poaching, disease, and civil wars have also caused a drop in zebra populations. 2,250 individuals, while the mountain zebra is vulnerable, and the plains zebra is near threatened. They are the favourite prey of lions, but are also hunted by leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, brown hyenas, and Nile crocodiles.Īccording to the IUCN’s conservation status, the Grevy’s Zebra is endangered with approx. They are well evolved for this with strong front teeth to pull up the grass and large molars in the back of their mouths for grinding. They are grazers, feeding mainly on grasses. Favoured habitats include grasslands, woodlands, savannahs, and mountainous areas. Zebras are native to the continent of Africa, specifically eastern and southern parts such as Kenya and Botswana. Grevy’s zebra: endangered, mountain zebra: vulnerable, plains zebra: near-threatened. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, brown hyenas and Nile crocodiles. Grasslands, woodlands, savannahs, and mountainous areas.ġ10 – 160cm at the shoulder, and 7-10ft in body length There are three living species of Zebra: the plains zebra (Equus quagga), the grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), and the mountain zebra (Equus zebra). They are members of the group Equus, which contains horses and asses. Zebras (subgenus Hippotigris) are well-known for their distinctive stripes.
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