With the names common zebra, plains zebra and burchell's zebra people mean the same animal. To make it easier we only use the name common zebra in this article.

Classification

Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae Species: Equus burchelli

Statistics

Weight male: 230-330 kg
Weight female: 200-300 kg
Height: 1.20-1.40 m
Length: 1.90-2.40 m
Length tail: 45-55 cm
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Gestation: 1 year

Identification

photographed by john Davison from Wildlife experiences

The common zebra has a squabby body with short legs and a small head. It has broad black and white stripes which are moving on under the belly. The females are generally browner in color. The tail is striped with halfway a long plume. Each zebra has a unique coat pattern.

Habitat

Savanna: open grassy plains, but also wooded grasslands and high grasslands. The size of the area where the zebra's live, can range from 30 square km to 600 square km in areas where they migrate a lot.

Food

Zebras are very adapted and fortunate grazers. They eat the tough, longer grasses and do not ruminate the vegetation. After them, the wildebeests can eat the grass which is less tough. When the wildebeests eat all, there will grow young green grass, which is perfect food for the antelopes. Zebras often make their way to the water during the day, because they prefer to drink daily.

When a foal is born it will eat the dung of his mother for the first few days. This is the way to build up their intestinal flora.

Activity

Zebras are diurnal and nocturnal, though generally they are more active during the day. The division and length of the activities depends on the habitat, the offer of food and the weather. When the zebras are in an area with little food they forage a lot of the time, when it rains they forage less. Most of the time they pass the day grazing the long grass. In between they drink water, have a bath and take some rest. At night some zebras continue to graze, but most of them are going to rest or sleep. At least one of the family remains alert and on its feet.