Zebras are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three extant species: the Grévy’s zebra, plains zebra, and the mountain zebra. Read some Interesting and Lesser Known Facts about Zebra.
Interesting and Lesser Known Facts about Zebra
- All zebra are close to their mothers, but males form strong bonds with their fathers.
- Each species of zebra has a different general pattern of stripes. The mountain zebra has vertical stripes on its neck and torso, but horizontal stripes on its haunches.
- The scientists said zebra have stripes to save it from predators.
- In Native American shamanism, the zebra is a symbol of balance, agility, clarity, and sureness of path.
- Zebras run in a zig-zag pattern when being chased by a predator to make it more difficult for the predator to run after them.
- A group of zebras is called a “dazzle”.
- The offspring of a donkey and a zebra is called a “zonkey.”
- Zebras are very fast-moving animals and can reach speeds of up to 65kmph when galloping across the plains.
- Zebras are very social animals and live in large groups called ‘harems.’ Plain and mountain zebras live in harems that are made up of one stallion and up to six mares and their young, while Grevy’s zebras come together as groups for short periods of time.
- Zebras form hierarchies with a Stallion (male) in the lead followed by his Harem ( a group of females) behind him.
- In Roman Circuses the zebra was usually called a ‘Tiger-Horse’ or a ‘Horse-Tiger’.
- The Grévy’s zebra is named after Jules Grévy, president of France (in 1882) who received a zebra as a present from the emperor of Abyssinia.
- Another name for Grévy’s Zebras is Imperial Zebras.
- If a zebra is attacked, its family will come to its defence circling the wounded zebra and attempting to drive off predators.
- Ostriches and zebras often live together to protect each other from predators. The ostrich can see better and the zebra can hear or smell danger better.
- Just like human fingerprints, Zebra stripe patterns are unique to the individual.
- Like horses, zebras sleep standing up, and usually only when in the safety of a group.
- Two zebras died of hunger in a zoo in Palestine and were replaced with donkeys painted with black and white stripes.
- The Native American culture refers to the zebra as a symbol of balance and sureness of path.
So, these are some Interesting and Lesser Known Facts about Zebra