SCIENTIFIC NAME : Equus quagga WEIGHT : 280-400 kg LENGTH : 2.4-2.7 m POPULATION : 500,000 PLACES : Africa, Northern Kenya, Ethiopia HABITATS : Treeless grasslands and woodlands | Zebras are several species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white striped coats. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and donkeys, zebras have never been truly domesticated.
There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the mountain zebra and the Grévys zebra. The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, while Grévys zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, to which zebras are closely related, while the former two look more horse like. All three belong to the genus Equus, along with other living equids. |
