Plains zebras

With its black-and-white stripes, the plains zebra is one of the savanna's best-known animals and lives in large herds. Every zebra's stripe pattern is unique.

Hoogte: 1,1–1,5 m
Gewicht: 175–390 kg
Levensduur in het wild: 20–25 jaar
Beschermingsstatus (IUCN): Gevoelig (NT)

Waarden zijn bij benadering voor volwassen dieren en verschillen per geslacht, ondersoort en populatie.

In één oogopslag

De belangrijkste feiten over Zebra’s.

Where does it live?It lives in the savannas and grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.
What does it eat?It is a herbivore that mostly eats grass.
Behaviour and social lifeZebras live in stable family groups of one stallion, several mares and their young.
FoalsPregnancy lasts about a year and usually a single foal is born.

Uitgebreid

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Wilde dieren zijn geen huisdieren. Vind je een gewond of jong wild dier, raak het dan niet aan en neem contact op met de plaatselijke dierenambulance of wildopvang.

In het kort

The plains zebra is the most common zebra species.
Every zebra's stripe pattern is unique.
Family groups consist of a stallion, several mares and their foals.
It forms huge herds with antelopes during seasonal migrations.
The IUCN lists it as Near Threatened; habitat loss and hunting are the main threats.

The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is a herbivore related to horses and known for its black-and-white stripes. It is the most widespread of the three zebra species. The purpose of the stripes has long been debated; research offers strong evidence that they make it harder for biting flies to land.

Where does it live?

It lives in the savannas and grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. Because it needs water regularly, it does not stray far from water sources.

What does it eat?

It is a herbivore that mostly eats grass. Because it can eat tough, tall grass, it helps create the shorter grass that more selective grazers prefer.

Zebras live in stable family groups of one stallion, several mares and their young. These family groups can come together in herds of thousands. In the Serengeti–Mara region they join the great migrations that follow the rains together with wildebeest.

Foals

Pregnancy lasts about a year and usually a single foal is born. The foal can stand and walk soon after birth. In the first days the mother keeps other zebras away so the foal learns her pattern and scent.

Conservation status

The plains zebra is listed as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss to farming and settlement, competition with livestock for grazing and water, and hunting for meat and skins are the main threats.

Fun facts

A zebra's skin is dark; the white stripes come from its hair.
A herd full of striped zebras may make it harder for predators to focus on a single target.
Zebras have never been widely domesticated the way horses were.