In fact, they sleep standing up and take turns to guard at night. They’re social animals, always alert to protect themselves from threats. This is a great way to confuse lions, as they can’t decide on a single zebra to attack. They’ll then divide into the original small herds. In times of food shortage or abundance of predators, several herds may join together to form large groups of hundreds of animals. They may join a herd during their lifetime, though. There are many stallions without a herd so people consider them nomadic. These animals group small herds, consisting of several mares and some stallions. Large numbers of livestock that destroy their habitat or force them to compete for food.The quagga, one of the zebra species, became extinct in the early 19th century due to poaching.All zebra species are endangered, mainly due to two problems: Unfortunately, they’ve had to retreat to their usual positions. It’s a well-known fact that their territory was much larger centuries ago. Almost all of them inhabit southern and eastern Africa, although there are small groups in the plains of Kenya, which is almost in the heart of the continent. The mountain zebra is used to living on steep terrain, while the other two live in the plains.Īll zebras live on the African continent though. This animal lives in the savannah, a complex ecosystem with large expanses of tallgrass prairie, many shrubs, and few trees. The mountain zebra climbs to altitudes where it’s cooler and rains more frequently, while the plains zebra and Grévy’s zebra must migrate across the African continent in search of rivers or water sources. They mainly eat in the morning and evening, and either rest or remain alert during the middle part of the day.ĭifferent species of zebra require specific amounts of water, especially during the dry season. They’re herbivorous animals that feed on grass and leaves. These move in all directions and contribute to the animal’s rather acute hearing. Like other equines, their legs are long and their ears large. The Grévy’s zebra is up to 5 feet tall at the withers and weighs almost 900 pounds. Beyond their resemblance to horses or other equines, they all exhibit different behavior.Īll three species are smaller than horses.

They’re actually three different species, and each of them has its own characteristics – such as the striped pattern on their bodies. When you talk about zebras, you’re actually referring to three different species of animals, which all have this striped coat: the plains zebra, the mountain zebra, and Grévy’s zebra. In the first place, it’s an equine, closely related to horses and donkeys. But are they white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Continue reading and find out the answers to these and other questions! Characteristics of a zebra and its fur Their black and white striped pattern is quite unique. Zebra fur is one of the most recognizable among African animals.

Cavern zebra pattern