25 Interesting Facts About Zebras

1. Zebras belong to the equid family of mammals, which includes horses and asses. They are present in the eastern and southern parts of Africa. 
2. There are three zebra species: Grevy’s zebra, plains (or Burchell’s) zebra, and mountain zebra. Plains zebra is the most abundant and widespread of all species, ranging from eastern to southern Africa. Grevy’s zebra is the largest among them, while mountain zebra is the smallest species. 
   
3. The most prominent feature of zebras is their black and white stripes. These mammals have coats of dark hair with white stripes. These stripes provide several advantages to zebras, including protection from horseflies and tsetse flies, thermoregulation, and camouflage. (Source)
4. Like the unique pattern of fingerprints in humans, the pattern of stripes is unique in each zebra. They can recognize each other through their individual stripes. 
5. Zebras live alongside wildebeest and giraffes. It provides better protection for all animals because they alert each other in case of any danger.
6. Zebras are pure herbivores, and grasses make up 90% of their food intake. They prefer green and short grasses, and occasionally eat leaves, twigs, herbs, and shrubs. Zebras can drink up to a gallon of water at a time and can survive for five days without water. Herds of zebras may travel up to 700 miles to find food and water. (Source)
7. Zebras are one of the few animals that can sleep while standing up. They do so by aligning their legs vertically. This posture assists them to run quickly if predators approach nearby. (Source)
8. Quagga, a relative of zebra, became extinct more than 100 years ago. This animal had strips on the front half of its body. Now, scientists have brought a similar animal through selective breeding of zebra. (Source)
9. The newborn zebra can stand up within 15 minutes of birth and start walking in an hour. The mother zebra keeps her foal away from other zebras for a few days so that it may recognize her with smell, sight, and sound.
10. Horses have chestnuts, keratinized skin patches, on all their legs. Comparatively, zebras also contain chestnuts, but only on their front legs. These chestnuts are unique to animals, similar to fingerprints in humans. 
11. According to a study, plains zebras cover the longest distance among mammals during their migration. They run 240 km in early December while traveling from Chobe River in Namibia to Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana. After two months, they return to Namibia totaling a distance of 480 km. (Source)
12. Zebras' eating behavior provides better grass to cattle during the wet season. These mammals eat long grass with less nutrition and leave nutritious grass for cattle to graze. It makes the cattle healthier compared to the cattle present in places without zebras. (Source)
13. According to a study, captive plains zebras have the highest rate of infanticide among ungulates. Introduced male zebras usually cause abortions through forced copulation or kill infants less than one month old. (Source)
14. Unlike horses and donkeys, zebras cannot be domesticated. It is due to their unpredictable and aggressive nature. However, the hybridization of zebras with horses and donkeys is possible. (Source)
15. Zebras are one of few mammals that are not colorblind and can see different colors, particularly in blue and green shades. However, they cannot see the color orange due to their dichromatic vision, lacking the red color. Zebras have a wide field of vision due to the position of their eyes. Their keen eyes enable them to spot a movement from a long distance. 
16. Grevy’s zebras are named after the former French king Jules Grevy. He received this zebra as a gift from the then Ethiopian king in 1882. 

    

    Grevy's Zebras are named after the French king Jules Grevy

    
    
17. Unlike other zebras and horses, Grevy’s zebras do not form long-lasting herds. Their social structure can change very quickly. Females, with or without foals, usually gather near water sources without making a permanent group. Adult male zebras either establish large territories around food sources or form loose bachelor herds. Male Grevy’s zebras establish territories by using dung piles.
18. Plain and mountain zebras form small family groups (harems) that contain a male zebra with several mares and their offspring. Harems and bachelor groups in these zebras combine near water sources to form large herds, sometimes numbering thousands of zebras. 
19. According to estimates, zebras initially appeared on earth around 4 million years ago. Mountain zebras are the oldest among all the species.
20. Zebras can live for 25 to 30 years in the wild. In captivity, these animals can live for up to 40 years due to the absence of predators and availability of food.
21. The average height of zebras is between 3.5 to 5 feet. They can weigh between 440 to 990 pounds. Males are larger and heavier and keep a harem of five to six females.
22. Big cats (African lions, leopards, and cheetahs), African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles are the main predators of zebras. Lions are the main predators of adult zebras, while hyenas hunt them in groups. Crocodiles usually attack zebras when they cross a river. Smaller carnivores only target zebra foals. 
23. Zebras use their herd power to defend themselves against predators. They form a semi-circle toward attackers and use their powerful kicks for protection.
24. Zebras can run up to 65 km/h (40 mph), which is slower than many of its predators. Therefore, they run zigzags to avoid chasing predators. Zebras also have higher stamina and maintain their speed for a longer duration, which makes it difficult for predators to catch them.
25. Zebra stripes also assist them to avoid chasing predators. When a large herd of zebras run together, their black-and-white patterns blend into a single moving mass. This makes it difficult for a predator to spot a zebra.