When was the first zebra found?

Answer 1

Using Darwin's Theory of Evolution, we can pinpoint the roots of the zebra back millions of years ago, as a shared ancestor of the common horse.

We start circa 60 million years ago, in the Eocene era. Eohippus is the oldest ancestor known to date, who lived in a boggy environment. The landscape had long grass, lots of swampy areas and no rocky areas.

It is important to note it is very stripy. Therefore, it was small, so it could camouflage from predators.

Next in the Oligocene period, rocky areas become more frequent as the planet's temperature rises (drying out the marshland). Reduced camouflage meant Eohippus was easily hunted and became extinct.

Miohippus was next in line, living circa 60 - 25 mya. The stripes begin to reduce as there is nowhere to hide in the barren rocky areas. It also gets bigger, gets longer legs and 'gets rid of' a toe so it can run easily.

Grassland begins to become even more scarce as we move out of the dinosaur ages and into the Miocene period. Merychippus is next in the evolution, and again reduces stripes, increases its size and foreleg bone length. Its toes were closer, again for running purposes (agility). Merychippus however lasts only about 20 million years.

Pliohippus lived circa 7 - 3 mya, was again taller and had feet resembling the modern horses' hooves. Its toes were so close it had 'merged' into one, creating even more speed and stamina.

The Pliohippus is the dividing line between both Equusspecies, as this is the important part about stripes.

Pliohippus living in modern day Africa had flies constantly buzzing around them. The flies were repelled by stripy Pliohippus, since the black intensifies the white light which the files abhor.

Therefore, they have stripes.

Eurasian Pliohippus however had none of these annoying insects, so had no need for them or for camouflage, so the gene for stripes was effectively lost.

This is now why zebras have stripes in Africa, whilst the closely related horse does not.

Natural selection also played a vital role in the division of the zebra and horse. In Europe and Asia, ones with stripes did not tend to reproduce, so they depleted.

In Africa, the reverse happened, so the ones with stripes did reproduce more than the ones without, so they died out.

Answer 2

Zebras have evolved with Old World Horses within the last 4 million years

Answer 3

They are African animals...Found in the wild there only.

Answer 4

your moms house

Answer 5

Adam &Eve

Answer 6

referees (X