In riddles, this animal is called a "horse in a sailor suit." The answer is known even to the smallest children who have ever been to a zoo where a zebra lives. She looks quite friendly, but you should not try to pet her: her temper is quite wild, and her teeth are strong. Obviously, the zoo is not the natural habitat of this interesting animal. How and where does a zebra live? What does she eat? What are the different features? Read the answers to these questions and more.
Sunny Tiger Horse
Once the historian Cassius Dio in his famous "Roman History" mentioned the following: Septimius Severus, at that time the emperor of Rome, ordered to catch for the circus some solar horses, which are covered with stripes, like tigers. The annals of history also indicate that later the son of Septimius slew one of the horses during battles in the arena. The unknown animal was called the "hippotiger".
Today it is quite clear what kind of tiger was meant. The prefix "hippo" means "horse". The ancient Romans noticed the similarity well: the zebra really belongs to the horse family. True, upon closer examination, it looks more like a donkey - long ears, a stiff protruding mane, massive legs. Where the zebra lives, there is a harsh climate and many predators, so such featureshelp her survive: the length of the ears indicates sensitive hearing, the mane will not interfere when running, and strong legs will quickly cover kilometers.
Habitat
The area where zebras are found is quite wide and depends on one or another type of animal. There are desert, mountain and plain zebra. The former live in dry savannas (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya), the latter can be found in Namibia and South Africa. Plains prefer the savannas of Sudan, Ethiopia and East Africa.
The soil in the savannah is poor in nutrients, so the main vegetation is low-growing trees, shrubs and grass, which make up the diet of animals. Between the rainy seasons, the ground dries up, so striped horses need to constantly be near a watering hole. During the day they can cover considerable distances, up to 50 km, but always return to their native place. If there is no water nearby, the zebra will dig a well with its hooves. A subtle sense of smell helps to determine the exact place.
More fun together
No matter where the zebra lives and what species it belongs to, it is a herd animal. There are about 10-15 heads in a group; they gather in large herds before a long journey. The male is at the head, the rest are females and cubs. The composition is constant, you can recognize each other by drawing. Responsibilities within the group are clearly defined. So, the animals go to the watering place in a certain order: first the most experienced female, then the foals in order of seniority. At the end is the male. There are also "guards": when the herd is sleeping, two zebras remain on their feet towarn of a threat in time. Newborn babies are very independent: almost immediately after birth, they begin to walk. But they firmly know that it is not safe to lose sight of your mother.
Zebras are "friends" with giraffes, ostriches, gazelles. Together, it is easier to resist a predator, in addition, giraffes can spot an enemy from afar.
Black or white?
The black and white striped color is the most striking feature of the animal. An interesting fact: the stripes of a zebra are like fingerprints for a person: it will not work to find two completely identical patterns.
Due to the unusual coloration in the scientific world at the end of the 19th century, there was even a dispute: some believed that the zebra was black and covered with white stripes, others stated that the animal was light with black stripes. A reasonable opinion was expressed on this subject by W alter Johnson, a British naturalist. He suggested: since the ancient ancestor of the zebra is a horse, and all ancient horses were dark in color (white spots appeared and stretched out during evolution), then the zebra should be considered black with white stripes. This thought was later quoted by more than one author.
What are stripes for? The answer will be prompted by the subequator zone where the zebra lives - the savannah. There are practically no bushes and trees, and it is very difficult to hide. In such conditions, the color of the zebra is an excellent disguise. They blend seamlessly into the long, striped grass. Insects (for example, tsetse flies) respond well to a solid color, but they do not notice a heterogeneous one. Zebras in a herd merge into one huge black and white spot, this can disorient a predator.
Onbrink of extinction
Unfortunately, the beautiful color of the animal became fatal for him. An amazing view - quagga - was exterminated at the end of the 19th century. The rugged hide of these odd-toed ungulates has made them a prime target for hunters.
The number of Grevy's zebras is rapidly declining. Dwellings are decorated with their unusual skins, the number of watering holes is decreasing, pastures are growing, while Grevy prefers to eat tough grass. Animal protectors in Kenya are taking effective measures to preserve the species: they are transporting them from dry areas to national parks and reserves. Places where zebras live today: Amboseli Park in Kenya, Chester Zoo (England), Saisambu Nature Reserve (Nakuru). Grevy is listed as endangered in the International Red Book, but it is hoped that the amazing species will survive.
