Odd-toed zebra. Interesting facts about zebras. to the zebra's stubborn struggle for life

Ecology

Basics:

Zebras are one of the few species of odd-toed ungulate mammals, which also includes horses and donkeys. The unpaired hooves may be an adaptation for running quickly on hard ground. Zebras belong to the genus of horses, but among all representatives of this genus they have the most unusual appearance.

But why do zebras have stripes? When zebras gather together, it is difficult for predators to choose one horse from the pack. Different species of zebra have different types of stripes, ranging from narrow to wide. In fact, the further you travel to the south of the African peninsula, the more different the colors of zebras will be.

Recent research has suggested that zebras' stripes also help them attract fewer blood-sucking insects.

In height, adult zebras can reach from 110 to 150 centimeters, excluding the head. The weight of zebras can vary greatly depending on the subspecies - from 175 to 380 kilograms. Males are usually 10 percent heavier than females.

Grevy's zebra - the largest type of horse. In the wild, zebras live on average 20-30 years, and in zoos - up to 40 years.

Zebras primarily feed on coarse grass, but may also eat leaves, which make up approximately 30 percent of their diet. Zebras are social animals that live in small packs.

Zebras run slower than horses, their maximum speed is 55 kilometers per hour, but they are quite resilient, which helps them successfully flee from predators. When chased, zebras can run from side to side, which prevents the predator from catching them. If there is serious danger, the zebra rears up and can kick or bite the offender with force.

If food is abundant in a place, such as the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, zebras prefer to lead a sedentary lifestyle. In arid areas, small groups of zebras may form larger groups and migrate together in search of food. Large herds of zebras can cover distances of 800 kilometers per year during migrations.

Zebras are very dependent on water, so they prefer not to move far from bodies of water, to which they must come to drink at least once a day. It is the duty of the oldest mare to lead the whole herd as they move from place to place, and to see that the family does not stray too far from the water.

Habitats:

In the wild, zebras live only in Africa.

Plains zebras They live in meadows and are distributed throughout the continent, in places where there are the necessary conditions - grass and water. Mountain zebras They live, as the name suggests, in mountainous areas in the arid African states of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Grevy's zebras live in areas covered with shrubs and grass in eastern Africa - Kenya and Ethiopia. Antelopes are usually found in the same areas, so both species receive additional protection from predators.

Security status: Least Concern, but some subspecies are threatened

The plains zebra population is of least concern, although the animals' numbers have declined greatly over the past 100 years.

The reasons for the disappearance of zebras are the following: sport hunting for zebras, as well as hunting for valuable skins, loss of the most suitable areas for animals due to population growth.

Wildlife animals suffer greatly due to livestock eating grass in pastures. Zebras cannot compete with the growing number of livestock, and their territories are also occupied by farmers who grow crops.

There have been unsuccessful attempts to domesticate the zebra several times over the past couple of centuries.

With the help of a special project, scientists from South Africa are trying to restore an extinct subspecies of zebra - quagga.

In ancient Rome, Grevy's zebras were called "hippotigris" and trained them to learn how to pull cards in the circus.

Zebras in a herd look very similar, but the location and shape of the stripes differ in the same way that a person's fingerprints differ. Scientists can identify individuals by comparing their pattern, stripe width, color and scars.

Zebras have black skin underneath their fur, which is why many claim that zebras have white stripes on a black background, although others dispute this claim.

1-2 million rubles.

Burchellova, or savannah zebra(Equus quagga)
Class - mammals

Order - odd-toed ungulates

Family - equines

Genus - horses

Appearance

A striped animal of medium size and dense build, with relatively short legs. Body length 2-2.4 m, tail 47-57 cm, height at withers 1.12-1.4 m, weight 290-340 kg. Males are only 10% larger than females. Another difference between males and females is a thicker neck. The mane is short, erect; at the end of the tail there is a brush of long hair. The coloring characteristic of zebras consists of alternating dark and light stripes, or rather light stripes on a dark background. Each individual has its own unique pattern, it is as individual as human fingerprints. On the front of the body the stripes run vertically, on the croup they are closer to longitudinal. The pattern of stripes varies individually and geographically, which allows us to distinguish 6 subspecies. In general, in the northern subspecies of savannah zebra the stripes are more distinct and cover the entire body, while in the southern subspecies they are wider, on the croup and legs they tend to lighten and “blur”, and against the background of white stripes “shadow”, light-colored stripes are visible. brown stripes. The savanna zebra differs from the desert zebra in its smaller size and sparser stripes; from the mountain zebra - by the absence of a “dewlap”, a characteristic bulge on the neck, and a lattice pattern on the rump.

Habitat

Widely distributed in southeastern Africa, from southern Ethiopia to eastern South Africa and Angola.

Inhabiting savannas and steppes, the savannah zebra prefers cereal and cereal-shrub pastures, especially those located on hills and gentle slopes of low mountains. However, it is also found in partially forested areas with tall grass, which contributes to the expansion of its range compared to other zebras. At night, zebras migrate to open areas, which provide less cover for predators.

In nature

Zebras are gregarious, polygamous animals that live in family herds. At the head of the herd is a stallion no younger than 5-6 years old, the rest are females and young animals. The size of the herd depends on living conditions; As a rule, there are no more than 9-10 heads in it. A herd occurs when a young stallion chooses a mare. Soon they are joined by several more females, and they stay together until the end of their lives. The composition of a family herd is constant, although when attacked by predators or during migrations, it can temporarily disintegrate or unite with other herds into herds of up to tens or hundreds of heads. In addition, zebras often graze side by side with other herbivores. Grouping into large herds is a protective measure - it reduces the chances that a particular animal will become prey to predators. Members of a family herd recognize each other even at a considerable distance. Within the herd there is a hierarchy of females with the oldest mare at the head. Young stallions are expelled from the family group at the age of 1-3 years; Before this, there is no antagonism between them and the stallion. Single adult males form separate herds or stay alone. Herding stallions cover the mares of their herd, not allowing outside males to approach them. However, even if a single stallion beats off a female, after mating she returns to her herd. Old or sick stallions are expelled from the herd, which is accompanied by fights. In general, fights between adult stallions who lead herds and between stallions and bachelors are rare.

The savannah zebra migrates widely due to seasonal changes in feeding conditions, moving to wetter areas during the dry season. In arid areas like the Serengeti (Tanzania), the total length of the annual nomadic route is 805 km, while in the wetter Ngorongoro (Tanzania), zebras live sedentary year-round. One of the adult mares (usually the oldest) leads the herd during migrations; foals follow her in order of increasing age, then other females with young ones, and the stallion brings up the rear. The grazing and watering areas are relatively constant, but are not protected by members of the herd from other zebras and herbivores. The size of the feeding area of ​​one herd can vary from 31 to 622 km².

They feed on herbaceous vegetation, eating about 50 types of herbs. Leaves and shoots are eaten in smaller quantities. Zebras depend on water sources because they must drink at least once a day, and they never move very far from them.

Reproduction

The first heat in mares occurs at the age of 13-15 months; the shoal stallion covers females starting from 1.5 years of age. However, fertilization occurs no earlier than 2-2.5 years, and for the first time the female gives birth to a foal no earlier than 3-3.5 years. Immature females are often beaten off and taken away from the herd by single males. Males become sexually mature at 3 years, but due to competition with older males, they collect their own harems no earlier than 5-6 years.

Zebras do not have a specific breeding season, although their peak birthing season occurs at the beginning of the rainy season, December-January. Thus, according to research in the Ngorongoro Nature Reserve, 2/3 of the foals will be born in January - March (rainy season), and only 1/10 in April - September (dry season). Pregnancy lasts 346-390 days, with an average of 370 days. In a litter there are 1, rarely 2 cubs weighing up to 30 kg. Within 10-15 minutes after birth, the foal gets to its feet on its own, after 20 minutes it takes its first steps, after 30-45 minutes it walks noticeable distances, and after an hour it begins to suckle its mother. Usually, the first days after the foal appears, the female does not allow anyone closer than 3 m to it. A stallion, as a rule, stays close to the giving birth mare and, if necessary, protects her. If the newborn is in danger (for example, from hyenas that wander in search of newborn ungulates), the mother hides with the cub in the herd, and all the zebras take part in their protection; however, the mortality rate of cubs from attacks by lions and hyenas is high - up to 50%. Although the foal begins to nibble grass within a week, milk feeding continues until 12-16 months. Zebras usually give birth to a foal once every 2-3 years, but 1/6 of the mares foal annually, becoming pregnant immediately after giving birth. Mares are capable of foaling until they are 15-18 years old.

It is necessary to ensure that animals do not overeat. This is especially true for human food: bread, chips, sugar, corn flakes. Cucumbers grown in your own greenhouse are not the best option for a zebra treat. Such food makes wild animals sick, their water-salt balance is disturbed, and treatment is quite long and expensive.

In captivity, wild horses do not have the usual dangers, so with good care they live longer than in the wild. On the other hand, in a pen, animals live in a very limited area and do not have the opportunity to independently determine the composition of the herd, which cannot but affect their well-being. If possible, care should be taken to ensure that the animals move as much as possible, and adult stallions should be separated so that they do not engage in fights.

When keeping zebras in captivity, special attention should be paid to the hooves. In nature, hooves wear down on the ground as they move. But in the pen, animal movement is kept to a minimum. If the hooves are not ground down, they become deformed, become ugly, and walking begins to cause pain for the zebra. Therefore, from time to time it is necessary to trim and grind down part of the hooves, which can only be done under general anesthesia.

But if zebras are well kept and regularly examined by a veterinarian, they will delight you for a long time.

Life expectancy in captivity reaches 40 years.

You need to immediately determine that in one word the question: “Where do zebras live?” you won't answer. Because these animals are divided into species, and each has its own. In addition, they differ from each other in build and color. The largest are the gravies, which live in the desert. Others are smaller.

On what continent does the zebra live?

These animals have mastered only the space of Africa. Moreover, their natural habitat zone is quite large. So, there is a species that lives in arid areas. This is a desert zebra. The name of the species speaks for itself and suggests that they are found in Ethiopia. Found in the arid plains of Kenya and Somalia. Animals are adapted to living in areas with sparse vegetation. They tolerate hot periods well, when they have to look for food by moving from place to place. Smaller than others is the mountain zebra. It is found in the open spaces and in Angola. This species is endangered. The number of individuals does not exceed 700 heads. Most often found in nature, it lives in savannas in the east and south of the continent.

Lifestyle

Animals most often live in small herds. Sometimes lonely zebras join a herd of giraffes. They are quite defenseless. In nature, they are hunted by a lion. He knows exactly where zebras live. This is his prey. Lions prefer to hunt single or sick animals. Because, despite its relative slowness, a zebra can give a good rebuff to a predator. Among the natural enemies, striped horses should also be afraid of hyenas and crocodiles. The latter lie in wait for a defenseless victim near the water.

The leader stands out in the herd. But he exercises “general leadership” and ensures the safety of his family. And the eldest female leads the herd to a watering hole or lush meadows. A family harem consists of several females per male. This is a clear rule. The male will not share a harem with anyone. During a migration, the leader usually brings up the rear of the march in order to be able to prevent an enemy attack.

Extinct species

It must be said that this species of animal was thoughtlessly exterminated by Europeans. Zebra skin was highly prized. And the animal could not defend itself from hunters. As a result, one species of zebra was completely exterminated. This is a kawagga who once lived in South Africa. Sandy on top and white below, it stood out among its relatives with special beauty, for which it suffered. Although about a hundred and fifty years ago the genus of these animals was the most numerous. Hunters preferred kawagg because of its tasty meat and beautiful skin. It was considered an excellent target for sport hunting. The result is disastrous: the last animal of this species died in 1883 at the Amsterdam Zoo. The Kawagga was the lightest of the animals in question. The rest have a skin of gray-black shades.

How many years do zebras live?

Nature, unlike humans, is very affectionate towards its striped creatures. In their natural environment they have few enemies. How long do zebras live? Hunters greatly shorten the lifespan of animals. But if no one bothers them, then they live quite calmly until they are thirty. These horses are very peaceful and calm. not typical for them. There are cases of male zebras attacking hyenas. This is another of their worst enemies. The male, using his hooves and teeth, will drive away a weak predator from his offspring. The population growth is due to the rigidity of the “family” structure of these animals. The entire herd is divided into clans, each of which consists of a male and several females. Young animals graze with them. The growing male is expelled from this society after a year. He needs to start his own family. Whatever the size of the total herd of animals, the groups do not mix. Each lives its own life, wanders around its own territory. Zebras usually do not fight among themselves for pastures and watering places. They exist quite peacefully next to other families.

It is quite natural that, once in the vastness of the African savannas, a person asks questions about where zebras live and how to find them. This is especially true when there is no guide. Travelers who want to admire the colorful beauties should know that zebras do not go far from tasty grass and fresh water. Therefore, you need to look for them where all this wealth is. Often their herds accompany giraffes, which can be seen from afar. Many people are interested in why nature endowed these animals with such an original color? There are different opinions on this matter. It is believed that this is a defense mechanism, so to speak. The fact is that such a pockmarked skin is difficult for a predator’s eye to distinguish. The outlines of the animal are not visible to the lion or other enemy. It is perceived as a pockmarked spot, which makes it very difficult to attack. Not everyone agrees with this. Especially considering that predators hunt at night, when the tell-tale stripes stand out clearly in the moonlight. They also cannot protect against heat, although such assumptions have often been put forward. It is interesting that the pattern of each individual is unique. Each species has its own color characteristics, but the stripes of an individual animal are individual, like fingerprints.

There are many varieties, one of which is zebra. This interesting striped horse looks more like a fairy-tale or cartoon character than a real inhabitant of the savannah. Where did these black and white stripes come from?

Many scientists have long tried to answer this seemingly simple question. Some were inclined to the version that, with the help of color, the zebra camouflages itself from predators that threaten the life of the animal every minute.

For quite some time this version was considered correct. But later everyone unanimously came to the conclusion that the stripes on a zebra scare away the tsetse fly from the animal, the bite of which poses a considerable threat to many. The tsetse fly is a carrier of fever, from which no one is immune.

The striped animal becomes unnoticeable to this terrible insect, so its bites are most often avoided. To understand what kind of animal is zebra, you can visit the zoo and interact with the animal live. It is small in size compared to other inhabitants of the African animal world and has a dense build.

The length of the animal reaches up to 2.5 meters, the length of the tail is 50 cm. Zebra height at the withers about 1.5 meters, weight up to 350 kg. Females, as a rule, are always 10% smaller than males. An important point is the fact that each individual has its own individual pattern.

It's like every person has their own fingerprints. There are three zebra species- those who live in the desert, on the plain and in the mountains. These are odd-toed, smooth-haired animals.

Features and habitat of the zebra

The entire territory of the South-East is the permanent habitat of the zebra. Plain zebras have chosen the shrouds of the Eastern and Southern parts. Mountain zebras preferred the territory of South-West Africa.

The photo shows a plains zebra

Desert zebras live in Kenya and Ethiopia. Feeding conditions may change due to weather. In dry times, the zebra migrates to wetter territory. Sometimes they can travel a distance of 1000 km. Zebras live in those places where there is a sufficient amount of plant food.

Animal with zebra legs exists. These are the ones with whom they sometimes cooperate and graze together, in common herds. Thus, it is much easier for them to notice the danger approaching them and flee.

Character and lifestyle of the zebra

The zebra is a very curious animal that often suffers because of this character trait. She has a fairly well-developed sense of smell, so she manages to hear danger in advance. But the zebra has some problems with vision; the predator may be seen at the wrong time.

They live in herds. There are 5-6 mares per male in such families. The head of the family always fiercely guards all his mares and cubs. If one of the herd is in danger, the male boldly enters into a skirmish with the predator until he succumbs to the incredible pressure of the male zebra and retreats. The herd usually numbers from 50 to 60 individuals, but sometimes this number reaches hundreds.

From kind and calm animals, they can turn into angry and wild ones. Zebras can mercilessly beat and bite their enemy. It is almost impossible to tame them. But not a single daredevil managed to ride it. Zebra in the photo involuntarily lead a person into delight. Some incredible beauty and grace is hidden in this wonderful animal.

Zebra food

All plant foods are what they love wild animals zebra. Leaves, shrubs, branches, various herbs and tree bark are what representatives of this genus prefer.

Zebra savannah animal very gluttonous. They eat just a huge amount of vegetation. They need to drink this dry drink with plenty of water, for this they will need about 8-10 liters per day.

Reproduction and lifespan

There is no specific breeding season for these animals. A small stallion can be born at any time of the year. Most often this occurs during the wet rainy season, when there are no nutritional problems.

Pregnancy lasts 345-390 days. Mostly one baby is born from her. It weighs on average about 30 kg. Within an hour after birth, the foal can walk and jump freely on its own.

Breastfeeding lasts for a baby for more than a year, despite the fact that after a week he tries to nibble grass on his own. In 50% of cases, newborn zebras die from attacks by predatory animals in the form of hyenas, crocodiles, and lions.

Females produce offspring once every three years. At the age of one and a half years, animals have finally matured sexually and are ready for independent life. But the female is ready for the birth of a baby only after three years.

Reproductive abilities are preserved in zebras up to 18 years of age. Zebras live in the wild for 25 to 30 years. In captivity, their life expectancy increases slightly, and they live up to 40 years.

Zebras live only in African savannas. Because of the striped pattern on their skin, they are also called tiger horses. These are close relatives of the horse and donkey, which together form the equidae family (Equidae).

WILD HORSES OF AFRICA

In their structure, steppe zebras are similar to horses, and the head, short, stiff occipital mane and long, tasseled tail resemble a donkey. The height at the withers reaches almost 1.4 m, weight - up to 300 kg.

Steppe zebras live in open areas with grass or in open forests. Typical of these African wild horses is a springy gait. The structure of their legs allows them to sleep standing up without straining their muscles. Like all equines, the zebra has large molars that are used for grinding plant foods. Zebras, like horses, are nervous animals. They are very vigilant and, when attacked, mostly flee. On the other hand, stallions are extremely warlike and aggressive, they can bite painfully and hit their opponents hard with their hooves.

THE MYSTERY OF THE ZEBRA STRIPES

There are many theories about the meaning and purpose of the contrasting black and white pattern. Stripes have long been considered camouflage, which optically breaks up the outline of an animal's body (somatolysis) and protects it from large predators such as lions. But zebras never try to hide in the bushes, where such camouflage would make sense. Also, the assumption that lions can be confused by their striped pattern during an attack has not yet been confirmed. Another theory is that the striped pattern affects the eyes of tsetse flies in such a way that these stinging insects do not perceive zebras as an attack target. This point of view is supported by the fact that tsetse flies are carriers of pathogens of various diseases, in particular nagana, and zebras suffer relatively little from this disease. However, the contradiction is that zebras often move side by side with antelopes, which these flies attack. At a short distance, flies navigate by smell, and they are practically indifferent to whether their victims have stripes or not.

Most likely, the stripes on the skin serve a social function within the herd, since this is the only way to identify each animal. In any case, it has been proven that the striped pattern helps zebras recognize each other when grooming, which has an important role.

1). Grevy's zebra

2). Hartmann's mountain zebra

3). Chapman's zebra (steppe zebra subspecies)

4). Grant's zebra (subspecies of steppe zebra)

GOOD FEED RECYCLERS

Steppe zebras primarily feed on grass; only occasionally they consume foliage and eat shrubs. Zebras lack the enzyme cellulase, which is necessary to break down cellulose. Therefore, like all ruminants, their bodies contain microorganisms that perform this function. They, like other equines, are located in the cecum (in ruminants - in the stomach). Since zebras digest food well, if necessary they can make do with rougher food.

CLOSE COHESION

As social animals, steppe zebras share their habitat with many grass- and leaf-eating animals. Other species benefit from the vigilance, good vision, hearing and sense of smell of zebras.

In most cases, zebras live in family groups of several adult females and young (5-20 animals), led by a stallion. During movements, the oldest mare often leads the herd, followed by the rest of the animals, and the stallion forms the rear guard. The availability of food determines whether zebras will undertake long-distance movements or remain faithful to their habitat. As long as there is enough food, they stay in one area. In the Serengeti, where food is limited during periods of drought, small groups of steppe zebras gather in large herds in search of food. Animals always strive for close physical contact in a group; they groom and bite each other. Mares in particular spend a lot of time nearby; They also have a subordination: those of higher rank are the first to approach the water source.

HAREMS AND GROUPS OF BACKGROUND

Steppe zebras are not territorial animals; The patrol areas of one family group, each of which, depending on the availability of food, can be 30-600 km2, overlap with the areas of neighbors. Young stallions at the age of four begin to compete over mares and try to acquire their own harem. At the same time, they engage in fierce fights, kicking and biting their opponents. If a stallion captures a harem, his position remains unchallenged, and competitors rarely challenge him. Stallions over four years of age who were unable to capture a harem converge into groups of bachelors. At the onset of puberty at the age of 2-4 years, young mares leave the herd where they were born and join a neighboring herd or several young stallions. For mares, life in a harem has the advantage that, thanks to the vigilance of the leader, they can spend more time searching for food, they have a protector and are protected from the harassment of other stallions. If a mare is not happy with her stallion, she can leave the group and join another.

After a twelve-month pregnancy, the female gives birth to a foal in December-January, which can immediately rise and follow its mother. He soon begins to graze, although he additionally suckles from his mother for about a year. Although foals are guarded and protected, the mortality rate among them is very high (about 50%).

THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE RAIN

In search of food and sources of water, steppe zebras embark on long journeys. During the rainy season, the animals stay on the plain at the foot of the Ngorongoro crater. In June, zebras move to the northwest, where there is more rainfall. In July they move further towards Massai Mara (national park in Kenya), where it rains even during the dry season.

Mountain zebras - lovers of rocky terrain

Mountain zebras (Equuszebra) are adapted to life in mountainous grassy areas. They have better muscle development than their relatives in the valley, and narrower hooves. Mountain zebras today can only be found in southwest Africa. There are two subspecies: the Hartmann's zebra (Equuszebra hartmanni), which lives in dry areas, and the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra), which is widespread in the mountains of the Eastern and Western Cape, although the population has never been large.