The Large mammals of africa
Zebra
Equus burchelliCharacteristic horse of the African plains, the Burchell’s Zebra is the only zebra species where the black stripes extend onto the stomach.
The east african zebra move over a wider range than the southern african group as they join the wildebeest on their migrations across the Serengeti and Masai Mara.
The southern African group has a shadow brown stripe within their white colouring that is absent from the east african group. The reason for this remains unknown.
A foal is born after a gestation period of twelve months. For the first days following birth the mother will shield the newborn from the other zebra.
This behaviour has been explained as a result of the mothers desire to imprint her patterns into the newborn foal's mind.
Zebra show a dominance in their ranks and will not hestitate to take action against intruders.
Zebra show a dominance in their ranks and will not hestitate to take action against intruders.
Zebra will use elevated areas to check for danger.
Zebra will use elevated areas to check for danger.
Zebras will gather in large herds when moving to new areas in search of food.
Zebras will gather in large herds when moving to new areas in search of food.
Zebra patterns are unique to a particular animal. It's most likely for this very reason that a mother will shield her young one from members on the herd. Thus, the mother first allows her patterns to be imprinted on the foal's memory before exposing them to the others.
Why do you never see a thin zebra? How do we know when a zebra is sick?
It's true that a thin zebra is seldom, if ever, observed. The reason for this is that the zebra has parasites in its stomach that can break down most food that it eats. This allows the zebra to utilize all the nutrients present in the food that it eats.
It's said that when a zebra is sick its mane will lie limp on its neck. It cannot be ascertained from this what the illness is however.
Stripes
Each individual zebra in all species has a unique patterning (the same natural principle as human fingerprints).
The southern African plain’s zebra has a 'shadow' brown stripe within its white colouring. This brown 'shadow' does not exist on the east African zebra. The extinct quagga that was found in South Africa, known to be a sub-species of the plain’s zebra, only had stripes on its head and had a brown body.
Could the above mean that southern african zebra needed brown in their colouring for some reason which was not necessary in East Africa?
When first born a young foal will stay close to its mother to imprint her patterning.
When first born a young foal will stay close to its mother to imprint her patterning.
It was once thought that zebra avoided water but they will regularly take to it when necessary.
It was once thought that zebra avoided water but they will regularly take to it when necessary.
