ZEBRA, striped mammal native to Africa and
belonging to the genus Equus, of the family
Equidae, which includes the horse and the ass. The
zebra is smaller in size than the horse and greatly
resembles the wild ass in habit and form, having a
short, erect mane, large ears, and a tufted tail. The
stripes, which distinguish this animal from other
members of the horse family, serve as protective
coloration in its natural habitat. The chief enemy of
the zebra is the lion, but it is also hunted by
Africans for the flesh and hide. Zebras can be
trained to work in harness and are popular animals
in zoos and circuses.
Three species and several subspecies are generally
recognized, chiefly according to variations in the
arrangement of the stripes. The mountain zebra, E.
zebra, is the smallest species, averaging about 1.2 m (about 4 ft) high
at the
shoulders, and has a strong, muscular, and symmetrical body. It is silver-white,
striped with black markings that extend to every part of the body except
the
stomach and the inner part of the thighs. The markings on the head are
brown, and
the muzzle is a rich bay-tan. The legs are short and wiry. Mountain zebras
travel in
small herds and inhabit the mountain ranges of South Africa. This species
was
formerly plentiful but has been decimated by intensive hunting.
Burchell?s zebras, E. burchelli, travel in
large herds and inhabit the central and
eastern plains; the species is named
after the British naturalist William John
Burchell (1782?1863). They are pale
yellow with broad, black stripes, generally
interspersed with fainter markings called
shadow stripes. The species has several
variations; some have stripes down to the
hooves, and the lower legs of others are
solid white without any stripes. The Boers
refer to all varieties of Burchell?s zebra as
quaggas. The true quaggas, however,
were exterminated during the 19th century; they were darker in color than
the zebra
and striped only on the head, neck, and shoulders.
The largest species, Grévy?s zebra, E. grevyi, is named after the
French president
Jules Grévy. It attains a height of about 1.5 m (about 5 ft) at
the shoulders, and its
stripes are narrow and numerous. Formerly plentiful and of wide range,
this species
now inhabits the arid plains of eastern Africa and is nearly extinct.
|