Did you know that each zebra’s stripes are as unique as a human fingerprint? Zebras are not only among the most recognizable creatures in the animal kingdom but also among the most fascinating.
As members of the horse family, these remarkable animals are native to the grasslands and savannas of eastern and southern Africa, where their distinctive stripes and graceful movements set them apart from the rest of the wildlife.
There’s much more to learn about the common zebra than its iconic black stripes, or are they white stripes? Either way, we’ll answer that age-old question right here!
Today, we’ll look at the main species of zebra, their mysterious stripes, and more! So get comfortable, as we’re about to learn the fascinating world of zebras with these 40 fun facts that you should know.
Zebras are herbivores, which means they primarily eat plants, grasses, and roots.
Three different species of zebra can be found in East and South Africa: the plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra (also known as the Imperial Zebra), and the mountain zebra.
Zebras belong to the Equidae family, which also includes horses and donkeys.
Each zebra species has its own general stripe pattern, and more impressively, each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, making zebra stripes as distinctive as snowflakes or human fingerprints.
The plains zebra has broader stripes than the other two species. The mountain zebra normally has vertical stripes on its neck and torso, while horizontal stripes cover its legs. Grévy’s zebras are usually taller, have larger ears, and have narrower stripes.
Their black-and-white striped coats serve multiple purposes: they repel bugs, act as sunscreen, and even provide camouflage against predators.
Zebra stripes may confuse predators at close range, but research suggests their primary functions could include deterring biting flies and regulating body temperature.
Zebras have excellent eyesight, with a nearly 360-degree view and strong night vision optimized for detecting predators. Their color vision is limited to shades of blue and green.
Zebras are social animals and can often be found in large groups. The collective name for a group of zebras has various words; it’s sometimes known as a dazzle of zebras, a zeal of zebras, or simply a herd of zebras.
Male zebras are called stallions, and a female zebra is known as a mare.
Young zebras are called different things depending on their gender. However, a baby zebra, in general, is called a foal, and if it’s female, it’s known as a filly, while a male foal is called a colt.
Zebra herds vary in size, usually with 5 to 20 families traveling together. This can be as large as 1,000 individual zebras. Zebras often form hierarchies when traveling with a dominant stallion in the lead, followed by the mares and their foals.
When a mother zebra gives birth, she usually keeps her foal away from all other zebras for two or three days until the foal can recognize her scent, voice, and appearance.
Only six minutes after being born, zebra fouls are able to stand. After 20 minutes, they can walk, and within 40 minutes, they’re able to run.
When faced by predators, zebras will form a semi-circle and bite, nip, or kick the predators if they come close to them. They will also encircle an injured family member to protect it from further attack if the need arises.
Zebras have extremely powerful kicks. Their hind legs can kick with nearly 3,000 pounds of force, which is strong enough to kill a fully-grown lion with just a single blow to the body.
Zebras have excellent hearing. The position of their ears allows them to hear in almost any direction, and they use this ability to communicate their mood with other zebras.
Other than using their ears, zebras communicate with facial expressions and sounds. For example, they often make loud braying or barking sounds and soft snorting sounds. Their ear position, how wide their eyes are open, and whether they show their teeth are all signals of zebras communicating.
The Grévy’s zebra is named after Jules Grévy, the president of France in 1882, who received a zebra as a gift from the emperor of Abyssinia. Grevy’s zebras are primarily found in East Africa, specifically in northern Kenya and Ethiopia.
Unfortunately, the Grevy’s zebra is considered to be an endangered species.
The plains zebra is the most widespread species of zebra, and there are also six known subspecies of plains zebras.
The Swahili name for the zebra is “Punda Milia.”
The Native American culture refers to zebras as a symbol of balance and sureness of path.
The zebra is mainly covered in white and striped with black or dark brown stripes, but underneath their white fur coats is black skin.
When chased by predators, zebras run in a zig-zag pattern to make it more difficult for them to catch them.
In Roman Circuses, the zebra was usually called a “Tiger-Horse” or a “Horse-Tiger.” The circuses used Grévy’s zebras to pull the carts.
In general, zebras are pretty short and range from 3.6 to 5 feet tall (1.1-1.5 meters). The largest is the Grevy’s zebra, while the shortest is the Plains zebra.
In terms of weight, the Grevy’s zebras weigh around 770 to 990 lbs (350-450 kg), Mountain zebras weigh between 529-820 lbs (240 to 372 kg), and plains zebras weigh up to 770 lbs (350 kg).
A zebra can run up to 40 miles per hour (65 km/h), which is incredible considering it has only one toe on each foot.
The mountain zebra comprises two subspecies: the Cape mountain zebra, which is found in South Africa, and Hartmann’s mountain zebra, which is found in south-western Angola and Namibia.
Wild zebras can actually survive a long time without water. They’re able to survive by only drinking water once every five days.
They’re impressive climbers, too! Mountain zebras live in rugged terrain, and often, to find their food, they have to climb. Luckily for them, their pointed hooves allow them to climb mountains easily.
Generally, zebras don’t lie down to sleep; instead, they usually sleep standing up.
The plains zebra appears on Botswana’s coat of arms. The two zebras symbolize the importance of wildlife throughout the country.
Like horses and humans, zebras cool down by sweating.
Zebras can be found in various protected areas, including Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary and Chelbi Sanctuary in Ethiopia. They’re also often found in National Parks in Kenya.
In 2016, the wild population of the plains zebra was estimated to be around 500,000. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classified it as near threatened.
Zebras have been cross-bred with other members of the horse family. Since the early 19th Century, zebras have been bred with horses or donkeys to form “zebroids.”
In the UK, black-and-white stripes on the road are known as zebra crossings. The most famous zebra crossing in the world is the Abbey Road crossing in London, where The Beatles walked across for the cover of their eleventh studio album.
On March 28, 2014, Wendy Jarnet claimed a Guinness World Record for owning the most zebra-related items. She won the record with 508 items, ranging from soft toys to clothing and jewelry.
In Conclusion
Zebras are truly remarkable creatures with unique patterns that have fascinated humans for centuries. Their social behaviors, survival strategies, and striking appearance make them one of the most intriguing animals in the wild.
If you ever get the chance to visit a national park in South Sudan or go on a safari in southern Ethiopia, keep an eye out for these magnificent animals. And while you’re there, why not share some of these interesting facts?
Zebras aren’t just beautiful; they’re a vital part of our world’s biodiversity, so let’s celebrate and protect them!
