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This is an example of how information is
displayed for all the species. All hyperlinks are enabled in the actual Field
Guide: for example, the word mountain zebra, lion, spotted hyena or
leopard (or any other species' name that appear in the text) will have a
hyperlink directly to relevant species' page.
Description
It is only possible to confuse Burchell's zebra with the Cape
mountain zebra. The stripes on
the flanks run on to the belly whereas the belly is white with a single stripe along the middle in
mountain zebra. Stripes fade out on lower legs but are distinctly striped all the way down in
mountain zebra. Stripes on the rump run diagonally and lengthways but
crossways in
mountain zebra. On the rump there are usually chestnut or yellowish stripes in the middle of the white
stripes whereas the stripes on the mountain
zebra's rump is solid.
Like human fingerprints and irises, each individual has a unique stripe
pattern. The
muzzle is black. A short, stiff mane runs down the back of the neck and the tail has a whisk
of long black hair on the end. Somewhat bigger than mountain
zebra: shoulder height males 1,35 m ; weight males 320 kg,
females 260 kg.
Visible Male/Female Differences
Males are a little larger than females. Both sexes have stripe a black running vertically between their hind legs;
in the males it is narrow and wide in the females. Females have one pair of mammae between their hind legs.
Habitat and Distribution
Open woodland, scrub and grassland. Dependent on water and rarely moves more
than 12 km from it. Very widely translocated.
Diet
Prefers short, green grass but will eat tall, coarse growth. Browses occasionally and will eat the fire-scorched leaves and twigs of mopane and round-leaved
kiaat trees. Unselective bulk feeders, the zebras are less sensitive to food quality than other large
herbivores and can maintain good body condition on very poor veld.
Reproduction
Single foals weighing 30-35 kg are born at any time
of year after a gestation of 360-390 days. Foals can stand after about 10
minutes, walk after half an hour and run after an hour. Foals start eating grass within
a few days and wean at 11 months. Lions and spotted
hyenas take adult zebras; foals are
taken by lions, spotted hyenas, leopards and cheetahs. Will stand
their ground to wild dogs.
Behavior and Habits
Active in the cooler early morning and late
afternoon. Drinks at least once a day and has a strong preference for clean water.
When water is muddy it may scrape a hole into which clean water seeps or try to skim cleaner
water from the surface. Home ranges cover 110-220 square kilometers. Considerable
distances are covered to reach grazing.
Stallions fight viciously for control of females. Males that
do not hold breeding herds join bachelor herds with dominance hierarchy
depending on age. Bonds are maintained by mutual grooming. Aggression from herd stallions
forces bachelors to the fringe of areas in which zebras occur. When herd stallions meet
they stand and sniff nose to nose, rub their cheeks together and sniff each other's genitals, stamp
their forefeet and toss their heads. Submission is signaled by lowering of the
head and holding
the ears back and making chewing movements. Dominance and threats are signaled by holding
the head high with ears cocked forward or turned inwards and back, showing the teeth, and
chasing.
Sounds
The alarm call is a high-pitched, repeated two-syllable 'kwa-hi'. The sound
is typical of the African bushveld and the colloquial name "quagga"
is derived from it. If
threatened by predators, herds flee in tight bunches. Top speed is 55 km/h. Herd stallions
defend their groups by running in the rear as they flee, kicking and biting
attackers, mares defend their foals in the same fashion. Predators are much more successful if
the zebra can
separated from the herd. The contrasting black and white stripes may help to
confuse predators and allow
zebras to see each other more clearly in poor visibility.
Dung and Field sign
The dung is kidney-shaped lumps, 5 cm or more across, characteristically
with a crack across the middle, often loosely stuck together. Areas where dust
baths have been taken
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