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Grant's zebra is one of several
sub-species of Plains zebras. These zebras average 53 inches in
height and weigh between 500 and 700 pounds. It is distinguished
from other Plains zebras by the presence of leg striping down to
the hooves and broad stripes on a white background. |
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| Grant's Zebras can be found in
the wild from northern Zimbabwe to the Sudan in East Africa.
It inhabits grasslands, especially those with scattered trees. |
Distribution Map |
Grassland habitat |
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In the wild, Zebras
engage in non-selective grazing of available grasses, especially
grass stems and sheaths. Their large barrel-shaped body holds a
very large amount of relatively un-nutritious grass. Zebras are
very dependent on water, so tend to stay near water sources. |
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Zebras live in stable family
groups of up to 17 animals headed by a single stallion. Mares stay
with the group; offspring leave. Females in the herd will establish
a dominance hierarchy. During travel, group is led by the dominant
female and her foal, followed by other females in their order of
dominance. |
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Members in a zebra
family recognize each other by sight primarily (each zebra's stripe
pattern is as unique as the human fingerprint!), but also by voice
and smell. Families maintain close bonds even during extended migrations
with thousands of other zebra and wildebeest. The family will slow
its pace to allow weak ones to keep up; they don't leave them. |
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Under ideal conditions, a female
zebra may produce a foal every year. One young is born after
a gestation of 361-390 days (about one year). The newborn
has brown stripes and is short-bodied and long-legged. Baby
zebras weight 66-76 poundsand stand 33 inchestall. Females
guard their baby from other members of the herd when it is
first born, perhaps giving the newborn time to learn her pattern
of stripes. Foals are very attached to their mothers and the
bond lasts until the birth of next foal. |
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Zebras are capable
of running up to 40 mph! The lion ans the hyena are predators of
the Zebra. If the Zebra cannot outrun the lion or hyena, it will
also use its hooves and teeth in defense. |
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There is much
discussion among scientists about the adaptive value of stripes.
One theory is that all those black and white stripes break up the
shape and make it not so recognizable as prey; another is that the
stripes of a herd exploding in all directions make it difficult
for a predator to focus on one animal. |
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Grant's zebras
are not in danger yet. They can eat coarse grass and are resistant
to diseases that affect cattle, so as long as the African plains
exist, so will the Grant's zebra! |
