Search results
The plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchellii) is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. Its range is fragmented, but spans much of southern and eastern Africa south of the Sahara. Six or seven subspecies have been recognised, including the extinct quagga which was thought to be a separate species.
The Plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchellii) is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. It is the most recognizable grazing animal on the African continent. Their closest relatives are donkeys and horses. The sparkling coat of zebras reflects more than 70% of incoming heat, which is likely to help them ...
Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. They graze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one another. Plains zebras are the most common species. They live in small family groups ...
- Plains Zebra Characteristics
- Plains Zebra Diet
- Plains Zebra Social Structure
- Plains Zebra Reproduction
- Plains Zebra Predators
- The Grant’s Zebra
- Chapman’s Zebra
- Burchell’s Zebra
- Plains Zebra Conservation Status
Plains Zebra are medium sized and thick-bodied with relatively short legs. Both male and female Plains zebra stand about 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) high at the shoulder, are approximately 2.3 metres (8 feet) long and weigh about 294 kilograms (646 pounds) however males may weigh 10% more than females. Like all zebra, they are boldly striped in black and...
These zebra graze two-thirds of the day on red oat grass, bark, roots and stems. They will also eat a variety of grasses, along with some additional browse like leaves and twigs. Plains zebra live in eastern and southeastern Africa where there are only two seasons, wet and dry. Zebra rely on rainfall for food and water and therefore have to go on g...
Plains zebra stay in family groups of a stallion, or male and several mares, however, different families will come together in huge herds of hundreds of zebras. Herds will mingle with wildebeests, ostriches and antelope while they graze and even come to depend on them as additional protection against predators. Zebra are always busy and alert and v...
In the wild, mares reach sexual maturity between 2 – 4 years. Males are able to compete for mares after they reach about 4 years of age. When gathering females for breeding, rival stallions compete fiercely by pushing, kicking and biting each other. Once a male establishes a harem, ownership of that harem is rarely disputed, unless he is unfit or s...
The Plains zebra main predators are lions and spotted hyenas. Nile crocodiles are also great threats during river crossings. Wild dogs, cheetahs and leopardsalso prey on zebra, although the the threats they pose are generally minor. For protection from land predators the Zebra retreats into open areas with good visibility at night time.
The Plains zebra has differentiated into several subspecies, two of which are now extinct. The Grant’s zebra(Equus burchelli boehmi), pictured left, is the most common of the plains zebra subspecies. The Grant’s zebra is the best studied of the plains zebra and much of what we know of the behaviour and biology of the species comes from work done wi...
The Chapman’s zebraor the Damara zebra (Equus burchelli antiquorum) is a subspecies of Plains zebra occurring from Angola and Namibia across northern South Africa to Transvaal. It is characterized by a pattern of broad, dark stripes alternating with thin, light shadow-stripes. The stripes fade into the brownish color of the body on the hindquarters...
Another southern subspecies of the Plains zebra, the Burchell’s zebra(Equus burchelli burchelli), now extinct, lacked stripes on the hindquarters. Its basic body color was reddish-yellow. Burchell’s zebra existed from southern Botswana into the Orange Free State of South Africa. As European settlement spread northward from the Cape to colonial Sout...
The Plains zebra endangerment situation is less alarming than that of other zebra. The Plains zebra is the most abundant wild member of the horse family, with a wide range and numbers probably exceeding 750,000. However, on a local level, the Plains Zebra is still threatened by hunting and by habitat change from ranching and other kinds of farming.
Jun 5, 2019 · Unlike both the mountain zebra and Grévy's zebra, the plains zebra has a striped belly. The plains zebra has a short and stiff mane, upright ears and a black muzzle. The tail is around 50 cm (20 in) long and ends in long, black hairs. Male plains zebras are slightly larger than females.
The Plains Zebra, also called ‘Common Zebra’, ‘Burchell’s Zebra’, and ‘Painted Zebra’, is an ungulate and equine from Africa that is native to over 15 African countries. The population of this social species is stable. However, some regional populations, like that in Tanzania, have sharply declined. Their beautiful body stripes, patterned with alternating stripes of […]
People also ask
What is a plains zebra?
What does a plains zebra look like?
Do Zebras have a subspecies structure?
Why do Zebras have stripes?
Are zebras clines or mountains?
Is a plains zebra extinct?
What is a plains zebra? The most common and widespread of its species, the plains zebra even appears on the coat of arms of Botswana. Larger than the mountain zebra, and smaller than the Grevy’s, this ungulate is horse-like but has a mane of short, erect hair, a tail with a tuft at the tip, and bears recognizable vertical stripes. Scientific ...
