ZEBRAS: PAINTED HORSES

ZEBRA IS A HORSE-LIKE ANIMAL OF AFRICA. THEY ARE WHITE OR CREAMY WITH BLACK STRIPES. THE ZEBRA IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN ASS, OR DONKEY, AND HAS A LARGE HEAD, LONG EARS, NARROW FEET, A TUFTED TAIL, AND A SHORT, ERECT MANE.

HABITAT:

ZEBRAS LIVE IN THE DESERTS AND GRASSLANDS OF AFRICA. THEY STAY TOGETHER IN LARGE HERDS FOR PROTECTION. THE HERD IS MADE UP OF DOZENS OF SEPARATE FAMILY GROUPS, EACH WITH A MALE, THE STALLION AS ITS HEAD. THE STALLION PROTECTS HIS HAREM AND BABIES AGAINST ENEMIES AND WARDS OF OTHER STALLIONS. WHEN CORNERED THE LEADER PUTS UP STIFF RESISTANCE, KICKING AND BITING FIERCELY. A FAMILY STAYS TOGETHER AND IF THE STALLION IS KILLED, THE HERD IS ADOPTED BY ANOTHER MATE.

FEATURES:

ZEBRAS ARE GRASS-EATING ANIMALS AND FLEET-FOOTED, ABLE TO ATTAIN A SPEED OF 40 MILES PER HOUR (64KM/H). ZEBRAS ALSO HAVE GOOD NIGHT VISION TO SPOT DANGER IN THE DARK.

ZEBRAS ARE HOOFED MAMMALS (ANIMALS WHICH HAVE AN ODD OR EVEN NUMBER OF TOES). LIKE A HORSE, A ZEBRA HAS AN ODD NUMBER OF TOES ON EACH FOOT.

SPECIES:

THERE ARE THREE SPECIES OF ZEBRA, ALL FOUND IN AFRICA. THE MOUNTAIN ZEBRA IS ABOUT FOUR FEET (1.2 M) TALL AT THE SHOULDER AND WEIGH 200 TO 380 KG. THE PLAINS OR BURCHELL'S ZEBRA IS FOUND IN OPEN OR WOODED GRASSLANDS IN ZIMBABWE. IT HAS NO STRIPES ON ITS TAIL AND LEGS, GROWS SLIGHTLY TALLER. GEVY'S IS THE LARGEST SPECIES OF ZEBRA AND GROWS TO BE FOUR AND A HALF FEET (1.4 M) TALL. THE MOUNTAIN ZEBRA AND GREVY'S ZEBRA ARE BOTH ENDANGERED BECAUSE OF INDISCRIMINATE HUNTING.

ZEBRAS STRIPES ACT AS A CAMOUFLAGE:

A ZEBRA'S ENTIRE BODY IS COVERED WITH STRIPES. A ZEBRA'S STRIPE PATTERN, LIKE A GIRAFFE'S COAT PATTERN, IS UNIQUE. NO TWO ZEBRAS HAVE STRIPES THAT LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME. WHILE THE STRIPES EXACTLY THE SAME. WHILE THE STRIPES ACTUALLY HELP ZEBRAS RECOGNIZE ONE ANOTHER, THESE MAKE ZEBRAS INDISTINGUISHABLE TO OTHER ANIMALS.

THE WAVY LINES OF A ZEBRA BLEND IN WITH THE WAVY LINES OF THE TALL GRASS AROUND IT. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ZEBRA'S STRIPES ARE BLACK AND WHITE AND THE LINES OF THE GRASS ARE YELLOW, BROWN OR GREEN, BECAUSE THE ZEBRA'S MAIN PREDATOR, THE LION IS COLOUR BLIND.

WHEN AN ENEMY SEES A LARGE GROUP OF STRIPES, IT GETS CONFUSED. THE PATTERN MAKES IT HARD FOR THE LIONS TO DECIDE WHICH ANIMAL TO ATTACK.