Grant’s Zebraalso known as the common or plains

zebraScientific name:Equus Burchelli

By Danielle

Taxonomy

There are three main types of zebras:Common zebraGrevy’s zebra (endangered)Mountain zebraGrant’s zebras are:Family : EquidaeOrder: PerissodactylaClass: MammiliaPhylum: ChordataKingdom: Animalia

What does a common zebra look like? The common zebra has black and white stripes down to it’s hooves, and a short, upright mane. These zebras are usually about 50-55 inches tall and 500-700 pounds. Males are about a little bit larger than female zebras. Newborns have a short body and long legs. The are typically about 33 inches tall, 70 pounds.

Did you know?• Every zebra has it’s own unique stripe pattern.• Generally, zebras from the northern parts of Africa have bolder stripes than zebras from the more southern parts of Africa.

ReproductionGestation is twelve months for a plains zebra. Only

one foal, or baby zebra is born at a time. The mare, or mother takes care of the foal. She will keep the foal away from the rest of the herd until the foal has learned her stripe pattern. The mare and foal have a strong bond until the mare has another foal. A mare has one foal about once a year.

The foal stays with the herd until they are mature. Females will stay with the herd until they are 2-3 years old. Males will stay with the herd until they are 4-5 years old. When the foal leaves, it will go to join another herd.

Habitat Grant’s zebra can be found from Ethiopia and Somalia, to northern South Africa. It is grassy and hot there. The zebra is a terrestrial animal. This means it lives on land. Grant’s zebra is not territorial. It likes to wander on a designated path, stopping for food and water. Zebras do not nest. Most zebras including Grant’s are not endangered. However, some rarer species are. Grevys zebra is one of the endangered species.

Food The plains zebra likes to eat grasses, leaves, shrubs, and roots. Plains zebras are herbivores. Zebras are highly dependent on water because of the hot African climate.

Predators: Lions are the main predator of the plains zebra. However, hyenas, wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs also eat it. The Nile crocodile can also be a threat when zebras cross rivers.

Did you know?• Zebras are the only grazers with incisor teeth. Other animals such as antelopes rely on zebras to eat the tough upper grass so they can get to the softer grass below.

Food Chain

Grass

zebra

Lionsun

decomposer

Physical Adaptations1. A plains zebras black and white stripes are one of it’s most noticeable

features. However, they are not for show. A zebras stripes help it by: When zebras run together, their stripes blur together so it is hard for a

predator to see individual zebras. On moonlit nights, it is hard to see the outline of a zebra because of the

black and white pattern. This makes it harder for a predator to hunt the zebra at night.

2. Plains zebra have strong incisor teeth. This helps them eat tough grasses. Also, instead of having to rip the grass out to eat it, this adaptation allows them to just cut off the top layer exposing the softer grass below for other animals.

3. Plains zebras have large ears and large eyes. Zebras have an excellent sense of:

hearing eyesight smell

They are always alert, and watching for predators. These adaptations help them know when a predator is coming.

Physical Adaptations4. Plains zebras have long legs and well developed hooves. This helps

them: Be very fast runners. They can run from 35-50 mph for short distances. A zebras legs are also used to kick a predator, or other zebras if they get

in a fight. A good kick can injure or kill a predator such as a lion.5. Plains zebras have: strong muscles large lungs So that they can run for long periods of time without tiring. This can help

them when they are running away from a predator. It can also help them because they walk for many miles every day before stopping for food or water.

6. Plains zebra have a layer of fat under their skin. This helps them look fit and healthy even if they are not because lions prey on the weak.

Behavioral Adaptations1. Common zebras stay in herds of 15 to 10,000 . Their stripes blur

together when they run making it hard for a predator to pick out a single member. Usually herds comprise mares and their foals, and one to two stallions, males. Usually there are about 15-20 per herd, but in the dry season several herds group together to search for water.

2. Common zebras move almost constantly on established paths. Then they do not deplete their food source in one area.

3. Common zebras run away from their predators unlike some animals which use camouflage. As I have said before, when zebras run together, their stripes blur. Common zebras can run 35- 50 mph for short distances.

4. When common zebras are traveling, the pace is set by the slowest member of the herd. Old, young, and injured zebras cannot be separated from the herd, or they will be very vulnerable to predators. If a zebra gets separated from the herd, the stallion will go back and search for them.

5. When being chased by a predator, the herd will surround the injured or weak as they run. The stallion will stay and fight the predator by kicking and hitting it.

Behavioral Adaptations 6. Common zebras have their own smile which looks like a barred

teeth grimace. This helps prevent aggression between zebras.7. Foals can walk 20 minutes after birth and can run after an hour. This adaptation is important because the herd needs to stay on the move to get food and water.8. Common zebra will stay in herds with other species such as wildebeest and gazelle because lions prefer wildebeest over zebra. They are sacrificing their friends to save themselves.9. Common zebras nibble each others skin to get off any loose hair and to strengthen their bonds.10. Common zebras clean themselves by rolling in mud. Then when the mud dries, they will shake it off along with any loose hair or skin. The remaining dust acts as a barrier against heat, wind and insects.

Zoo Observations This habitat is about the size of the CFIS parking lot. It is a field of grass with rocks and trees. It is clean and is enclosed by a rock wall and a fence. There are usually 4 animals if none of them are inside; Grant’s zebra, the Masai Giraffe, Ostrich, and the Egyptian goose. The food source is the soft grass that is growing there. Grant’s zebra is also fed hay, D and H pellets, and vitamins. The water source is a small pond.The picture is of the habitat at the zoo.

Improvements to the Cleveland Zoo HabitatHere are some changes that would allow the zebras at the Cleveland

zoo to keep some of their adaptations.

1. The exhibit should be larger because Grant’s zebra is not a territorial animal. It likes to move from place to place. It’s legs and hooves are made to run and walk for long distances.

2. The Grant’s zebra should be given tough grass to eat because zebras are the only grazers with incisor teeth for eating tougher grasses.

3. There should be a muddy area in the enclosure because zebras clean themselves in mud.

4. Also there should be about 15-20 zebras in the enclosure because zebras stay in herds of that size in the wild.

5. In the exhibit there should be a large clean water source because zebras drink a lot of water.

6. The zookeepers should put in new objects for the zebras to experiment with so the zebras can obtain their keen senses.

Did You Know?Mares and foals in order of dominance lead the

herd. The stallion follows behind to protect the herd when they are being chased by predators.

Zebras use baying, snorting, barking, and whuffling noises along with facial expressions to communicate. (For example: ears flat back means trouble)