Erzsebet Frey

So, you think you know everything [about
zebras](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/), huh?
Well, get ready to have your mind blown by the incredible lifestyle and
diet of the Mountain
[Zebra](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) (*Equus
zebra*).

These majestic creatures, found in the vast grasslands and mountains of
Africa, have a whole world of fascinating facts waiting to be
discovered. From their scientific classification to their preferred
habitats and feeding habits, we will take you on an exciting journey
into the captivating world of Mountain
[Zebras](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/).

Prepare to be amazed by their unique behaviors, mating patterns, and
even their conservation status. So, buckle up and get ready to uncover
the mysteries of the Mountain Zebra's lifestyle, diet, and more. It's
going to be wild!

## Scientific Classification and Appearance {#scientific-classification-and-appearance .wp-block-heading}

The mountain zebra, a member of the Equidae family, is characterized by
its unique appearance and scientific classification. Adapted to thrive
in desert conditions, mountain zebras have physical differences from
other zebra species. They possess several adaptations that enable them
to survive in arid and semi-arid environments.

One notable adaptation is their ability to go without water for extended
periods of time, as they have the ability to extract moisture from the
vegetation they consume. Additionally, their hooves are specially
designed to navigate rocky terrain and withstand the harsh conditions of
their habitat.

In terms of physical appearance, mountain zebras have a distinct coat
pattern that sets them apart from other zebra species. Their coat is
characterized by vertical
[stripes](https://simplyecologist.com/what-colour-are-zebras/) that are
more widely spaced
[compared](https://simplyecologist.com/jaguar-vs-cheetah-vs-leopard/) to
other zebras. This unique pattern helps them blend into their
surroundings, providing camouflage from predators. Furthermore, mountain
zebras have a stockier build and larger ears compared to other zebra
species. These physical differences are thought to be adaptations to
their mountainous habitat, allowing them to navigate steep slopes and
detect potential threats more effectively.

## Range, Habitat, and Distribution {#range-habitat-and-distribution .wp-block-heading}

Mountain zebras have a preferred habitat of grasslands, particularly in
desert regions and arid and semi-arid areas. They're commonly found in
the mountains of South West Africa and can also be spotted in salt
flats.

However, their habitat is increasingly impacted by human activities such
as hunting and farming, which restrict their access to food and water.

### Preferred Habitat and Regions {#preferred-habitat-and-regions .wp-block-heading}

Mountain zebras can often be found in desert regions, arid and semi-arid
areas, where they prefer grasslands as their natural habitat. They've
specific migration patterns and are known to move between higher and
lower altitudes depending on the availability of food and water.

Here are some interesting facts about their preferred habitat and
regions:

- Migration Patterns:
- Mountain zebras have seasonal migrations in search of food and water.
- They move to higher altitudes during the dry season and descend to
  lower areas during the wet season.
- Predators and Defense Mechanisms:
- Mountain zebras face threats from predators such as lions,
  [hyenas](https://simplyecologist.com/facts-about-the-hyena/), and
  cheetahs.
- They've developed defense mechanisms like living in groups, where they
  can collectively defend against predators.
- Mountain zebras are known to use their powerful kicks as a means of
  defense.

### Adaptations to Arid Environments {#adaptations-to-arid-environments .wp-block-heading}

In arid environments, mountain zebras adapt to survive by seeking out
grasslands as their preferred habitat and strategically migrating
between higher and lower altitudes in search of food and water. These
adaptations for water scarcity and survival strategies in extreme
temperatures allow them to thrive in harsh conditions.

Mountain zebras have evolved to efficiently utilize the limited water
resources available in their environment. They can survive for long
periods without drinking water by obtaining moisture from the vegetation
they consume. Additionally, their ability to migrate between different
altitudes helps them access fresh grazing areas and water sources.

### Impact of Human Activities {#impact-of-human-activities .wp-block-heading}

You must be aware of the significant impact your activities have on the
range, habitat, and distribution of mountain zebras. Here are two
important points to consider:

- Impact on local communities:
- Human activities such as hunting and farming can restrict the mountain
  zebras' access to food and water, affecting local communities who
  depend on these resources.
- Encroachment on their habitat can lead to conflicts between humans and
  zebras, resulting in the loss of livelihoods and increased
  human-wildlife conflicts.
- Ecotourism opportunities:
- Protecting the range and habitat of mountain zebras can create
  ecotourism opportunities, benefiting local communities by providing
  sustainable income from wildlife tourism.
- The presence of mountain zebras in protected areas can attract
  tourists, who contribute to local economies through accommodation,
  transportation, and other services.

## Behavior and Lifestyle {#behavior-and-lifestyle .wp-block-heading}

A mountain zebra's behavior and lifestyle are influenced by their
natural instincts and daily routines. These zebras have developed
certain behaviors to adapt to their environment and ensure their
survival. One important aspect of their behavior is their social
structure. Mountain zebras live in small family groups consisting of one
stallion and one to five mares. Adolescent males form their own group
before finding a mare. This social structure helps ensure the survival
and protection of the group members.

To further understand the behavior and lifestyle of mountain zebras,
let's take a look at the table below:

<figure class="wp-block-table">
<table>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th>Behavior</th>
<th>Description</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Active Time</td>
<td>Mountain zebras are awake during the day and sleep through the
night.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Feeding</td>
<td>They spend half their awake time feeding.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Activity Peak</td>
<td>They are especially active during sunrise and sunset.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Bathing</td>
<td>They bathe by rolling around in the dirt to remove parasites.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Hydration</td>
<td>Mountain zebras hydrate twice a day.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

These behaviors play a crucial role in the survival of mountain zebras.
Their feeding habits ensure they obtain the necessary nutrients, while
their activity patterns and bathing behavior help them stay clean and
free from parasites. Additionally, their hydration routine ensures they
stay hydrated in their often arid and semi-arid habitats. By
understanding and appreciating the behavior and lifestyle of mountain
zebras, we can better protect and conserve these magnificent creatures.

## Diet {#diet .wp-block-heading}

To maintain their vegetarian diet, mountain zebras primarily rely on
consuming grass, leaves, fruits from shrubs, and shoots. Their diet is
specifically adapted to suit their arid environments.

Here are some interesting facts about their diet:

- Adaptations to arid environments:
- Mountain zebras have evolved to efficiently extract water from the
  plants they consume, allowing them to survive in areas with limited
  water sources.
- They've elongated intestines that aid in the digestion of fibrous
  plant material, such as grass and leaves.
- Their teeth are well-suited for grinding down tough vegetation, with
  large incisors and molars that enable them to efficiently chew and
  break down plant matter.
- Impact of human activities:
- Human activities, such as overgrazing by livestock, have resulted in
  the depletion of grasslands, which are the preferred habitat and food
  source for mountain zebras.
- Habitat fragmentation due to agricultural expansion and urbanization
  has also restricted their access to suitable food and water sources.
- Additionally, hunting and poaching have posed threats to mountain
  zebras, reducing their population and further impacting their ability
  to find adequate food resources.

## Reproduction, Mating, and Conservation Status {#reproduction-mating-and-conservation-status .wp-block-heading}

Mountain zebras have a unique breeding cycle, with breeding occurring
every one to three years. This reproductive strategy, coupled with
conservation efforts, has led to population recovery.

Once reduced to a mere 100 individuals during the 1930s, the number of
mountain zebras has increased to approximately 1,200 in captivity and
2,700 in the wild.

However, these zebras still face threats from predators and human
activities, making their conservation status vulnerable.

### Breeding Frequency and Cycle {#breeding-frequency-and-cycle .wp-block-heading}

Breeding frequency and cycle for mountain zebras involves mating and
reproduction at intervals of one to three years. This breeding interval
allows for proper gestation, birth, and nurturing of the foal.

During the breeding season, one dominant stallion will mate with one to
five mares within their small social group. Adolescent males will form
their own group before seeking out a mare to breed with.

The reproductive behavior of mountain zebras is vital to the
conservation of the species, as their population has faced significant
decline in the past. Currently listed as Vulnerable, mountain zebras
have seen a resurgence in numbers, with approximately 2,700 in the wild
and 1,200 in captivity.

However, threats from predators and human activities, such as hunting
and farming, continue to pose challenges to their survival.

### Population Recovery Efforts {#population-recovery-efforts .wp-block-heading}

Efforts to recover the population of mountain zebras have been crucial
in ensuring their survival and protecting their reproductive and mating
behaviors. Population monitoring and reintroduction programs have played
a significant role in increasing the numbers of mountain zebras.
Currently, there are approximately 1,200 individuals in captivity and
2,700 in the wild. To illustrate the progress made, the table below
provides a comparison of the population numbers over time:

<figure class="wp-block-table">
<table>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th>Year</th>
<th>Captive Population</th>
<th>Wild Population</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1930s</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>–</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Present</td>
<td>1,200</td>
<td>2,700</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

The conservation status of mountain zebras is classified as Vulnerable.
They face threats from predators and human activities such as hunting
and farming, which restrict their access to food and water. Ongoing
efforts in population recovery are vital for the long-term survival of
this species.

## Mountain Zebra Facts {#mountain-zebra-facts .wp-block-heading}

One interesting fact about mountain zebras is that they can only be
found in zoos in other countries. This is due to the conservation
efforts put in place to protect the species and ensure their survival.

Here are some more fascinating facts about mountain zebras:

- Unique Appearance:
- Mountain zebras have a shorter stature and longer ears compared to
  plain zebras.
- They've a striped coat pattern that helps them blend into their rocky
  habitats.
- Their stripes continue all the way to their hooves, unlike other zebra
  species.
- Limited Breeding:
- Mountain zebras can't breed with other zebra species, making them a
  unique and distinct species.
- Breeding occurs every one to three years, and one foal is born after a
  year-long gestation period.
- Foals become independent between 13 and 37 months of age.
- Population Trends:
- The population of mountain zebras was severely reduced to only 100
  individuals during the 1930s.
- However, thanks to successful conservation efforts, the number of
  mountain zebras has increased to approximately 1,200 in captivity and
  2,700 in the wild.
- Despite this increase, mountain zebras still face threats from
  predators and human activities, such as hunting and farming, which can
  limit their access to food and water.

These facts highlight the uniqueness and conservation significance of
mountain zebras, making them a truly fascinating species.

## Lifespan and Physical Characteristics {#lifespan-and-physical-characteristics .wp-block-heading}

Mountain zebras, like their plain zebra counterparts, have a lifespan of
20-30 years and possess distinctive physical characteristics. However,
it's important to note that there are variations in lifespan among
individuals. Some mountain zebras may live closer to the lower end of
the range, while others may live closer to the upper end.

When it comes to physical adaptations, mountain zebras have evolved
certain features to thrive in their rugged habitats. They've a sturdy
build, with a length ranging from 6 feet 11 inches to 8 feet 6 inches
and a height ranging from 3 feet 10 inches to 4 feet 11 inches. This
compact body structure allows them to navigate through rocky terrains
with ease. They weigh between 450 and 820 pounds, which provides them
with the necessary strength to withstand their challenging environment.

Another notable physical characteristic of mountain zebras is their
unique striped coat pattern. Unlike the bold black and white stripes of
plain zebras, mountain zebras have narrower, more distinct stripes that
are close together. These stripes serve as a form of camouflage in their
natural habitat, helping them blend into the surrounding grasslands and
shrublands.

## Daily Activity and Hydration {#daily-activity-and-hydration .wp-block-heading}

During the day, you can observe the daily activity and hydration habits
of the mountain zebra. Here are some interesting facts about their daily
routine:

- Daily Feeding Habits:
- Mountain zebras spend about half of their awake time feeding.
- Their primary food source is grass, but they also eat leaves, fruits
  from shrubs, and shoots.
- In captivity, they can eat hay and pellets.
- They're selective with the grass and plants they consume.
- Water Sources:
- Mountain zebras hydrate twice a day.
- They rely on natural water sources such as rivers, streams, and
  waterholes.
- They're adapted to survive in arid and semi-arid areas with limited
  water availability.
- During periods of drought, they may travel long distances in search of
  water.

Mountain zebras have developed efficient strategies to ensure their
daily activity and hydration needs are met. Their feeding habits are
focused on obtaining the necessary nutrients, while their ability to
find and utilize water sources in their habitat allows them to stay
hydrated. These adaptations contribute to their survival in arid
environments.

## Threats and Conservation Efforts {#threats-and-conservation-efforts .wp-block-heading}

To ensure the survival of mountain zebras, conservation efforts are
crucial in mitigating the threats they face from predators and human
activities. The population of mountain zebras has experienced a decline
in the past, with only about 100 individuals remaining during the 1930s.
However, thanks to conservation strategies, their numbers have increased
to around 1,200 in captivity and 2,700 in the wild.

Conservation strategies for mountain zebras focus on protecting their
habitats, managing their populations, and reducing human-wildlife
conflicts. These efforts include:

1.  Habitat Protection: Establishing protected areas, such as national
    parks and reserves, to safeguard the mountain zebra's natural
    habitat from encroachment and degradation caused by human
    activities.
2.  Anti-Poaching Measures: Implementing anti-poaching patrols and
    surveillance to prevent illegal hunting and trade of mountain zebras
    and their body parts.
3.  Community Engagement: Involving local communities in conservation
    initiatives through education, awareness programs, and providing
    alternative livelihoods to reduce their dependence on activities
    that harm mountain zebras.

Table: Conservation Strategies for Mountain Zebras

<figure class="wp-block-table">
<table>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th>Conservation Strategies</th>
<th>Description</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Habitat Protection</td>
<td>Establishing protected areas to safeguard their natural habitat</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Anti-Poaching Measures</td>
<td>Implementing patrols and surveillance to prevent illegal
hunting</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Community Engagement</td>
<td>Involving local communities through education and awareness
programs</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

These conservation efforts are essential in ensuring the long-term
survival of mountain zebras and reversing their population decline. By
protecting their habitats, reducing threats from human activities, and
engaging local communities, we can secure a future for these magnificent
creatures.


So, you think you know everything about zebras, huh? Well, get ready to have your mind blown by the incredible lifestyle and diet of the Mountain Zebra (
<em>
 Equus zebra
</em>
). These majestic creatures, found in the vast grasslands and mountains of Africa, have a whole world of fascinating facts waiting to be discovered.

Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) &#8211; Lifestyle, Diet, and More

[Zebras](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) create a
wide spectrum of vocalizations and sounds. The
[zebra](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) has a
distinctive tactile call (called "bark"), which sounds like "aha, aha,
aha" or "kwaha, kawha, ha, ha. The Grévy's zebra's call has been
described as "something like the growl of a
[hippopotamus](https://simplyecologist.com/what-does-the-hippo-eat/)
combined with the whistle of a donkey, while the mountain zebra is
relatively calm.

Loud snorting in zebras is related to alarm. Screams usually occur when
there is pain, but singles also scream when fighting. Zebras'
flexibility of their lips allows them to create complex facial
expressions. Visual cues also include head,
[ear](https://simplyecologist.com/why-do-rabbits-have-long-ears/), and
tail positions. A zebra may signal an intention to kick by tilting its
ears back and sometimes wagging its tail. Threatening gestures,
especially between stallions.

Plains and mountain zebras strengthen their social bonds through
grooming. Members of a harem bite and scratch the neck, shoulder, and
back with their teeth and lips. Grooming usually takes place between
dams and foals and between stallions and mares. The grooming shows the
status of well-being and facilitates
[aggressive](https://simplyecologist.com/is-wild-boar-aggressive/)
[behavior](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-behavior-of-red-pandas-in-the-wild/).
Although Grévy's zebras do not perform social care, they sometimes rub
against another individual.


Zebras create a wide spectrum of vocalizations and sounds. The zebra has a distinctive tactile call (called “bark”), which sounds like “aha, aha, aha” or “kwaha, kawha, ha, ha. The Grévy’s zebra’s call has been described as “something like the growl of a hippopotamus combined with the whistle of a donkey, while the mountain zebra is relatively calm. Loud snorting in zebras is related to alarm.

What sound does zebras make?

[Zebras](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) are
black with white stripes. The presence of stripes introduces an
exceptionally assertive type of visual stimulation into the young
animal's world and this difference from other, un-striped
[animals](https://simplyecologist.com/how-to-study-animals-in-the-wild/)
is emphatically not trivial. Anyone who has watched zebras attentively
will have become aware that eyes have to work overtime to accommodate to
their every movement.

Each time an animal changes the angle of its body the eye registers the
vertical stripes actually getting wider or narrower (depending on how
close to broadside it is) while horizontal stripes, instead, keep a
similar width. Research has shown that individual visual nerve cells in
mammals are programmed to respond to certain primary properties of the
seen environment and different cells register different properties.
Thus, the process of seeing is essentially modular and is mediated by
large batteries of specialized visual receptors.

Research has also shown that black and white stripes can trigger an
identifiable selection of these specialized visual neurons, notably
those that register: (a) brightness contrast; (b) color contrast; (c)
edge contrast; (d) edge orientation; (e) spatial frequency; (f)
direction of motion; and (g) temporal flicker. In real life it is likely
that this battery of receptors plays their narrow roles as part of the
machinery of seeing, helping eyes and brains to extrapolate such useful
information as directional movements and distance and thus contribute to
making sense of the total environment.

Somehow, zebras have evolved a pattern that isolates such visual
responses from their normal environmental contexts. Black and white
stripes represent a sort of abstraction of what eyes are hungry to see!
Strong physiological responses can be stimulated in mammalian eyes by
patterns that successfully isolate the particulate, component-specific
properties of cells within the visual cortex.

Stripes, particularly vertical stripes, trigger responses in
early-stage, motion-selective neurons, which are functionally tuned to
register the direction of motion. It is this specialization of visual
neurons that is central to the proposal that the overall striping of
zebras has evolved in direct response to the separate sensibilities of
these neurons. Also central to this concept is the detachment of
striping from individuality, manifest in the observable conditioning, of
young zebras, to respond indiscriminately, and with every sign of being
'attracted' to stripes, regardless of their 'owner'.

As it matures, the young
[zebra](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) seems to
find almost any fellow zebra attractive and they can even be drawn
towards zebras of another species
([behavior](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-behavior-of-red-pandas-in-the-wild/)
that is particularly frequent among Plains Zebras *Equus quagga* and
Grévy's Zebras *E. grevyi* in Laikipia in Kenya). More important,
especially for its general application to the
[evolution](https://simplyecologist.com/history-of-the-wolves/) of
visual signals of all sorts, the suggestion here is that visual signals
are effectively 'designed' in the eyes of their beholders -- in this
case, the eyes of other zebras.

Central to understanding the evolution of stripes is relating their
beginnings to their function in the behavioural repertoire. There may
have been some shifts over time but some continuity must be expected.
Stripes could, of course, have derived from the alteration of some
pre-existent pattern with stripes aligning themselves out of, say, a
scatter of cryptic spots and squiggles, such as are common on many
juvenile mammals and
[birds](https://simplyecologist.com/birds-reproduction-and-development/)
that need to hide from predators.

Additionally, or alternatively, striping in zebras could have begun with
exaggeration of some detail of surface morphology that was significant
in the behavioural repertoire of the zebras' common ancestor. A scan of
the behaviour of contemporary zebras offers hints as to what that detail
might have been and suggests an explicitly social function for stripes.
The clue comes from one of the few easily observed signs of
'friendliness' among zebras.

Skin-nibbling is integrated into the single most important affiliation
in zebra society, namely the mother--young bond. Directly and
indirectly, that bond is likely to provide the social glue that holds
zebra societies together. Furthermore, zebras do not nibble at random;
they approach, nose to nose and prefer the point where the neck meets
the shoulder above all other sites, although the root of the tail and
lower rump are also popular. Of course, mothers, partly because they are
so much taller, have little choice but to nibble the base of their
offsprings' manes and backs (which in itself might have established a
very early taste for being nibbled on the shoulder and explain its
universality among equids). Young foals, instead, cannot reach their
mothers' shoulders and must be content with her legs, flanks and face,
but the preference for nibbling shoulders is evident in the interactions
of similar-aged foals.

In adopting mutual skin-nibbling as a bonding device zebras resemble
some primates and many other social mammals that have appropriately
shaped incisors in both jaws. The most striking feature of the
neck-shoulder junction is that the skin has to be fairly loose there to
accommodate to a lot of neck movement. This looseness gives rise to
vertical folds or skin wrinkles, which would be unremarkable were it not
for the fact that many organisms respond to, or need, just such visual
markers to help direct their species-specific behaviour. When such
attention-attracting focii become 'target areas' it is not uncommon for
them to be visually advertised.

Therefore, ancestral equids would have been conforming with a very
widespread phenomenon had they evolved light and dark vertical streaks
to exaggerate and advertise the vertical skin folds on their shoulders.
Knowing that all equids still target the shoulder for grooming and that
the majority of species (always or sometimes) have striped shoulders
makes it plausible that this preferred 'target area' was the starting
point for stripes.

Projecting that connection back into evolutionary time to suggest that
stripes spread out and away from the shoulders, making the entire animal
one huge, three-dimensional 'target area' (which living zebras, indeed,
are), is completely consistent with the functional behavior of living
zebra


Zebras are black with white stripes. The presence of stripes introduces an exceptionally assertive type of visual stimulation into the young animal’s world and this difference from other, un-striped animals is emphatically not trivial. Anyone who has watched zebras attentively will have become aware that eyes have to work overtime to accommodate to their every movement.

What colour are zebras?

Zebra [stripes](https://simplyecologist.com/what-colour-are-zebras/) are
special like a person's fingerprints. There are plains zebra, Grévy's
zebra and the mountain zebra.The plains zebra is the most common.

The numbers of all three are shrinking because of [habitat
loss](https://simplyecologist.com/threats-to-the-biodiversity/),
hunting, and competition with livestock for water and their favorite
food, grasses. In fact, zebras graze on grass so much that their teeth
have to keep growing so they don't wear out!

Why do they even have stripes? No one knows for sure, but camouflage is
a good guess. The mass of stripes in a marching herd of zebras might
make the herd look like a moving mass with broad stripes. For predators,
this makes it difficult to spot a single zebra to attack.Some scientists
also believe that the uniqueness of the stripes can help zebras figure
out which is which.

Zebras are social animals that can live together in large herds or
smaller familygroups. They stay close together when grazing, they
[run](https://simplyecologist.com/how-long-can-cheetah-run/) together
when they try to escape from predators, and they even groom one another.

Zebras form small groups called harems. Each harem consists of one male
(called a stallion), a few females (called mares), and their young
(called foals).Grévy's zerbras don't live in a harem. Herding increases
safety because then many eyes and ears are alert to danger.

The zebras are very protective of their fellow herd. They don't leave
any of their herd behind.

Grévy stallions are more territorial than other zebra stallions. They
patrol their individual territories to keep others out.

The predators of zebras are
[lions](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-the-lion/)
and [hyenas](https://simplyecologist.com/facts-about-the-hyena/). Zebras
also need to watch out for African huntingdogs, leopards,
[cheetahs](https://simplyecologist.com/what-are-the-most-interesting-facts-about-cheetahs/),
and, when crossing water, crocodiles.

Zebras sleep standing up. This keeps them ready to be on the run in a
moments notice. Newborn foals also stand for 20 minutes and run for an
hour.When a zebra sees danger, it barks and brays to warn others.

Although running is their best defense, zebras can also bite.They can
also break an attacker's bones with powerful kicks.

Zebras spend most of their day eating grass.

Zebras have a dark skin with white stripes.

If attacked by a predator, zebras will form a half circle in front of
the predator and attack as needed. Also, if a member of the herd is hurt
or very young, the zebras will form a circle around them for protection.


Zebra stripes are special like a person’s fingerprints. There are plains zebra, Grévy’s zebra and the mountain zebra.The plains zebra is the most common. The numbers of all three are shrinking because of habitat loss, hunting, and competition with livestock for water and their favorite food, grasses. In fact, zebras graze on grass so much that their teeth have to keep growing so they don’t wear out! Why do they even have stripes?

Funny facts about zebras

[Zebras](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) live in
Africa.The best-known
[zebra](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) is the
plains zebra, which lives in the pastures and forests of eastern and
southern Africa.

Grévy's Zebra has a highly discontinuous range, being found from the
eastern side of the Rift Valley in Kenya to the Tana R. There is a
small, isolated population east of the theAlledeghi Plains north-east of
Awash N. P. in Ethiopia. Population extends to north of Mt Kenya
although a few
[animals](https://simplyecologist.com/how-to-study-animals-in-the-wild/)
are found further south-east along the Tana. There is a small population
in and around Tsavo East N. P. in Kenya that was introduced in the
1970s. They are considered to be extirpated from Somalia (where the last
confirmed sightings date to 1973); sightings from S Sudan require
confirmation.

This animal is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and possibly Somalia. Some
animals may persist in Djibuti, but their presence is not registered. In
Ethiopia and Somalia, the population has been significantly reduced,
both in size and population size.
[Habitat](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-natural-habitat-of-a-red-panda/)
in Ethiopia and Eritrea, African plains zebras live in arid grassland
arcs of the Great Rift Valley.

Over the past four decades, Grévy's Zebras have expanded their range
onto the Laikipia Plateau, primarily for anthropogenic reasons. Grévy's
zebras live in arid and semi-arid grasslands/shrublands (annual rainfall
between 100 and650 mm)where there is permanent water. The lack of
standing water ultimately limits their incursion further to arid areas
to the east and north, as well as competition with others, even plains
zebras.

In the recent past, plains zebras were not present west of the Nile.
Fossil remains from North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mali,
Libya) to Cape Town are known.' Suitable habitats include grasslands and
grassland--bushland mosaics (from humid to mesic environments); also
present in miombo woodland.

On Mt Kenya, Plains Zebras occur up to 4300 m, and individual home
ranges can cover up to 1000 m in altitude. Absent from the
[Congo](https://simplyecologist.com/where-does-the-western-lowland-gorilla-live/)
basin rainforest, and from the dune desert. Water is an essential
requirement for the habitat and they rarely move more than 12 km from
it. DeHoop N. R., Karoo N. R., now the Camdeboo N. P. (Graaff-Reinet),
Commando Drift N. R., Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, Tsolwana N.R. and
Gariep Dam N. R.

The current distribution of Mountain zebras differs from that of
historical moments, due to the establishment of artificial water points
which have enabled them to occupy previously unsuitable habitats. In
Angola, a population survived in Iona N. P. (Huntley 1972), though the
current status of this population is unknown.

In Namibia, the subspecies is discontinuously distributed in four
populations: from Kunene province in the south to R Ugab. and eastwards
to the Outjo District; the Erongo Mts; on the escarpment from the Swakop
R. southwards to the Naukluft Mtsand eastward along the Kuiseb and Gaub
drainages into the Khomas Hochland; Hartmann's Mountain Zebras are
established in three conservation areas in the Northern Cape,
SouthAfrica (Richtersveld and Augrabies National Parks and Goegap
Provincial N. R. ), and have also been introduced outside their range in
the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

Habitats are rugged, broken mountainous and escarpment areas up to
around 2000 m with a rich diversity of grass
[species](https://simplyecologist.com/how-do-ecologists-study-species/)
and perennial water sources. Cape Mountain Zebras in Mountain Zebra N.
P. show a regular seasonal movement, from an open grassy plateau in the
summer where there are stands of *Themeda triandra* to more wooded hill
slopes and ravines in the winter.

When the temperature drops sharply, the zebras leave the plateau to seek
shelter in the wooded ravines. However, seasonal variations in zebra
numbers on the plateau are more closely associated with variations in
rainfall than with temperature. The numbers on the plateau are lowest
during the driest time of the year(Aug and Sep), rather than the coldest
(Jun and Jul).

The movement is associated with a relative change in diet quality as
indicated by crude In the summer, fecal and grass protein contents were
higher in samples collected on the plateau than in those collected on
the hill slopes. In the winter the reverse was the case.

On the plateau, the cover of grasses in the height range favored by
zebras changed only slightly from summer to winter. Mountain zebras
drink twice a day during summer so water is one of the limiting factors
in their distribution.

Mountain Zebras occur on the open sandy plains where they must endure
extended periods away from water. Where surface water is not available,
they will dig for it with a scraping movement of the front hooves, at
times excavating to depths of a meter or more.


Zebras live in Africa.The best-known zebra is the plains zebra, which lives in the pastures and forests of eastern and southern Africa. Grévy’s Zebra has a highly discontinuous range, being found from the eastern side of the Rift Valley in Kenya to the Tana R. There is a small, isolated population east of the theAlledeghi Plains north-east of Awash N. P. in Ethiopia.

Where do the zebras live?

[Zebras](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/) are plan
eaters. The preferred forage is Aristida spp., Chrysopogonplumulosus,
Dactyloctenium schindicum, Digitaria sp., Lasiurus scindicusand
Sporobolus iocladus. Zebras are well adapted to
[eat](https://simplyecologist.com/what-do-jaguars-like-to-eat/) herbs,
have high-strength teeth, are very resistant, and the digestive system
is very effective at extracting nutrients from grasses.

In ecosystems with high predation pressure, they may suffer heavier
predation than do comparable ruminants, wildebeest, and buffalo, from
the large cursorial predators, such as
[lions](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-the-lion/)
and spotted hyaena.

Grévy's Zebras are predominantly grazers, with preferred grass
[species](https://simplyecologist.com/how-do-ecologists-study-species/)
including *Cynodon dactylon, Pennisetummezianum, Aristida adscensionis,
Chloris virgata* and Chrysopogonplumulosus. In stressed conditions, such
as during times of drought, they eat *Sericocomopsis spp., Salsola spp.,
Disperma spp.*

These swards are often patches with high fiber grasses (e.g.
*Pennisetum* spp.) that are not tolerated by domestic livestock.
Consequently, with
[food](https://simplyecologist.com/what-do-jaguars-like-to-eat/)
availability becoming less predictable with overgrazing of areas by
domestic livestock in recent times,

Free-standing water is a requirement of their diet. In much of their
range, this is in the form of springs. Grévy's Zebras drink in a
four-hour time window at the middle of the day, probably to reduce the
risk of predation water sources. In areas where people are, they are
excluded from the use of water during the day and drinking shifts to
night-time.

Plains Zebras: over 90% of its diet consists of grass the rest being
herbs, which may be taken by accident. In Kruger N. P., Smuts (1972)
recorded a list of some 50species of grass and eight herbs. The choice
of grass species largely reflects the species available, but zebras show
some selectivity: of seven main grass species, one, *Panicum maximum,
contributed 40% of the* intake and the same preferences were shown all
through the year.

Preferred grasses include *Themeda triandra, Cynodon dactylon* and
*Eragrostis superba.* In extreme dry periods*,* they even go for corms
and rhizomes.

Plains zebras seem to favor areas of short grass, especially recently
burned areas with new growth. However, in the Serengeti, Plains Zebras
are the first in a grazing succession. They move into the long grass,
grazing it down by feeding mostly from the top stratum(using their
incisors, rather than plucking) and thereby making it attractive to the
Common Wildebeest and other more selectively feeding species.

Mountain Zebras select greener grasses with a high leaf: stalk ratio and
little or no moribund material. They feed 40 to 80 mm above the ground,
except when they observe the seed heads of some herbs. Protein levels of
grasses selected generally exceed 5%.

*Themeda triandra* is the preferred grass species in the Mountain
[zebra](https://simplyecologist.com/funny-facts-about-zebras/), while
*Cymbopogon plurinodis, Heteropogon contortus, Setaria neglecta* and
*Enneapogon scoparius* are also eaten. *Digitaria eriantha is eaten
occasionally and* *Eragrostis curvula* is used significantly only in
winter when seedheads are eaten.

There are generally three main grazing periods during the day: a few
hours after dawn, late morning, and from mid-afternoon to dusk.

Foals will nibble grass when only a few days old. Up to the age of about
14 weeks the foals of both subspecies eat the feces of adults,
particularly that of their own mothers. They paw the feces and eat parts
of two or three pellets, possibly to obtain a supply of the intestinal
micro-organisms required to break down cellulose in their food.


Zebras are plan eaters. The preferred forage is Aristida spp., Chrysopogonplumulosus, Dactyloctenium schindicum, Digitaria sp., Lasiurus scindicusand Sporobolus iocladus. Zebras are well adapted to eat herbs, have high-strength teeth, are very resistant, and the digestive system is very effective at extracting nutrients from grasses.

Messaggi di Rogue Scholar

Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) – Lifestyle, Diet, and More

What sound does zebras make?

What colour are zebras?

Funny facts about zebras

Where do the zebras live?

Diet of a zebra