The mountain zebra is considered vulnerable because its population is low and susceptible to decreasing. The Red List also lists Hartmann's zebra (as a subspecies of mountain zebra) as vulnerable. According to the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, the plains zebra is not endangered, while the mountain zebra is considered vulnerable and the Grevy's zebra is endangered. Equus quagga crawshayi (Crawshay's zebra)Įach species of zebra has its own conservation status.Equus quagga chapmani (Chapman's zebra).Equus quagga burchellii (Zululand zebra, Damara zebra, Burchell's zebra, Bontequagga).Equus quagga borensis (Half-maned zebra).Equus zebra (Cape mountain zebra, Mountain zebra).Equus hartmannae (Hartmann's zebra, Hartmann's mountain zebra).The taxonomy of zebras, according to ITIS, is: ITIS, however, lists six subspecies of plains zebra. Likewise, the IUCN says a 2008 study of 17 plains zebra populations that represented five of the six subspecies found very little differentiation among them and concludes that the subspecies splits may be arbitrary. Fish & Wildlife Service, on the other hand, lists four species. The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), a service of the U.S. Other experts say Hartmann's zebra is a separate species.įor example, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says genetic analysis does not support the hypothesis that Hartmann's zebra is a separate species. Some experts say that there are three species of zebras - Grevy's zebra, plains zebra and mountain zebra - and that Hartmann's zebra is a subspecies of mountain zebra. Zebras become fully mature at 3 to 6 years old and will have a lifespan of around 25 years. The young zebra gets its nutrition from its mother's milk and will continue to nurse throughout its first year. Soon after birth, foals are able to stand up and walk. When they are born, foals weigh around 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo. Offspringįemale zebras carry their young for a gestation period of 12 to 14 months. Zebras eat mostly grass and will travel up to 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) in search of food, according to the African Wildlife Foundation. The kick can be powerful, though, and can cause serious injury to a predator. However, running away is the usual tactic, sometimes accompanied by a defensive kick. If he must fight, he will lower his head with neck outstretched and teeth bared, prepared to bite. He will stand his ground while the rest of the family runs away in zigzag fashion. When danger approaches, the stallion will alert the others with a high-pitched snort, according to the University of Michigan. Known predators of zebras include lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas.
Another habit of zebras is mutual grooming, which they do to strengthen their bonds with each other. For example, ears flattened back means trouble. Even the position of their ears can signal their feelings, according to the San Diego Zoo. They also bark, bray, snort or huff to get their point across. Zebras have several ways they communicate with one another, including the facial expressions of wide-open eyes and bared teeth. Once the foals are old enough to travel, they and their mothers move on. Instead, stallions establish territories and mares cross into them to breed and give birth.
However, Grevy's zebras don't have herds. Family groups (known as harems) sometimes get together to form loosely associated herds, according to the San Diego Zoo. Plains zebras and mountain zebras live in family groups led by a stallion, with several mares and offspring. The mountain zebra is found in South Africa, Namibia and Angola. The Grevy's zebra lives in the arid grasslands of Ethiopia and northern Kenya. Plains zebras live in the treeless grasslands and woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. Though they all live in Africa, each species of zebra has its own home area. Plains zebras are 3.6 to 4.8 feet (1.1 to 1.5 m) at the shoulder and weigh up to 770 pounds (350 kg), according to the African Wildlife Foundation. Mountain zebras are from 3.8 to 4.9 feet (116 to 150 cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh 529 to 820 pounds (240 to 372 kg), according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Their thick bodies make them look like mules with stripes. It weighs 770 to 990 pounds (350 to 450 kilograms) and is around 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall from shoulder to hoof. The largest zebra is the Grevy's zebra, according to the San Diego Zoo.
0 kommentar(er)
