| Scientific
Name: Equus burchellii
Size: 1.3 metres at shoulder
Weight: 340 kgs
IUCN Endangered Species?: Least
Concern
Estimated Wild Population: 750000
Distribution: Eastern and southern
Africa
Description: The
ubiquitous nature of the zebra disguises the fact that it is a truly
bizarre looking animal. No
other mammal on the planet is so extensively covered by such a strongly
contrasting colour scheme. There
are several regional subspecies, and these are identified largely by the
style of stripes. The
classic east African zebra (Grant’s subspecies) are the most
extensively covered. Those
further south tend to have fewer black stripes, although brown
‘shadow’ stripes are often present.
Also, the lower legs are usually free of any stripes.
Zebra from Namibia (Damara subspecies) are the least heavily
striped of all zebra and have the most pronounced shadow stripes.
Unusually for ungulates, zebra form close, family units of
several females with their foals, led by a stallion.
The huge herds often seen on the African plains are caused by
these families massing together. The
integrity of each individual
family is still maintained. The
common zebra is the only species of true wild horse not considered to be
endangered.
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