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Zebras
Described as a "horse in striped pajamas," three species of zebra inhabit Africa. They are equiids, which means they are members of the horse family and are odd-toed ungulates. Zebras inhabit tropical grasslands in sub-Saharan Africa. Social herd animals, they live in groups called harems. Their distinctive black and white stripes have made them a favorite of children for many generations.
1,854 Questions
Why does a zebra have stripes?
The reason I have heard is basically to confuse predators when charging into a herd of zebras. The rapid movement of the black and white stripes somehow makes it harder for the predator to focus on just one animal, increasing the zebras' chances of getting away.
They are used as camouflage. Colorblind animals confuse the stripes with tall grass in the savannah.
Zebras are black or dark skinned animals with large white stripes and blotches to give camouflage from its predators. Some Zebras have shadow stripes between the white and black coloring.
It is believed that zebras are black animals with white detail for three main reasons. The first is that white equidae would not be able to survive well in the plains or forests of Africa. Secondly, the extinct species of plain zebra, known as the Quagga, had the white stripes of zebras today on the front of their bodies, but a dark colored rump. The third reason is based on the shadow stripes. When the pigmented white band becomes to wide, a secondary stripe starts to emerge. The idea that some zebras have white under bellies and legs is not thought to be evidence of an overall light color, since many animals of different colors have white or lighter colored bellies and legs.
The stripes tend to be vertical on the head, neck, forequarters, and main body, with horizontal stripes on the legs and rear end.
It has been suggested by some zoologists that the stripes act as a complex camouflage mechanism. The virtual striped allow the zebra to hide in grassland. To our eyes this seems absurd, as the vivid black and white coloring stands out against the grass and the zebra does not appear very hidden. However, a zebras main predator is the lion, an animal noted for its color blind sight, so theatricality a zebra standing in grass will not be noticed by a lion.
Also, as the zebras move and run in herds, the stripes may help to confuse predators, since a number of zebras moving and standing close together can appear as one large animal, making it very difficult for the lion to pick out a single zebra to attack.
As the herd of zebras scatter to avoid a predator, the vertical stripes traveling in multiple directions creates a confusing mask, making it much harder for the lion to track individual animals. However biologists have never observed a lion being confused by the zebra stripes in this way.
The zebras stripes are also believed to play a role in their sexual attractions, as the slight variation of stripes allows the animal to distinguish between individuals. Now two zebras have the same stripes. It is also thought that any wounds the zebra receives disrupts the striping pattern and indicates the fitness of the individual to other members of the herd and potential mates..
Recently, zoologists have found that the disruptive coloration of the stripes can effect the visual system of the Tsetse fly, a blood sucking insect. There is experimental evidence for this theory, it is however a little limited.
Alternative theories are concerned with stripes coinciding with fat patterns beneath the skin. This would serve as a thermo-regulatory mechanism for the zebra, meaning that the stripe allow the zebra to control their body temperature.
The way the Common Zebras have stripes is unusually natural or casually used to hypnotize other predators, like the leopard. Sometimes, it always cannot help out when in danger but can ward off hyenas who may steal the prey or possibly flinch in any situation.
For the stallions, no, but for the mares, usually. One stallion leads a whole herd of mares, and he mates with every one of them. Each mare, however, is unlikely to mate with any other stallion except the one leading the herd.
because they are mammals and all mammals are warm blooded
a cheetah's body is completely built for speed, and practically nothing else. they have a flexible spine so they can bunch their legs closer and then stretch out. their bodies are long and slender, as are their legs. this helps them running because less air is blocked by their bodies. small heads and ears play a part in running too, because small blocks less air as well. they have long, thick tails to help fast turns. they have long, un-retractable claws that act like cleats. by the way, they have a big heart and lungs for big air intake and faster blood-pumping. so generally, the cheetah is long and thin. hope i could help out! :)
No. Kangaroos are Mammals; specifically, they are marsupials. Unlike amphibians, they do not undergo metamorphosis; they do not have moist skin; they do not breathe through gills when they are young; and they do not lay eggs (Although not all amphibians lay eggs).
Do people use zebras for anything?
People can use them to make fur coats, but that is against the law. They people in the earlier days used them to make blankets. But i don't think they do that anymore. They just might try to stay away from zebras in fer that they have rabies or lions will come after them. They just use them to load things on them most likely.
How many babies do zebras have at one time?
Most of the time zebras only have one foal at a time, but on rare occasions they can have twins.
Where did the stripes on a Zebra come from?
Well, no-body really knows how, is it some sort of reason, or did god create it? I know one thing, it's to help it's camoflague. Hope this helped!
What is a zebras physical description?
sort of shaped like a donkey but is white with black stripes , also they have a long snout making it look like a horse. their legs are short but they still can run a fast amount of speed. their mains are black and white stripes to go along with its body . :)
The quagga was a recently extinct subspecies of the Plains Zebra. Indigenous to South Africa, it once roamed Cape Province and parts of South Africa in great numbers. Unlike other zebras, with their full-body black and white stripes, the quagga was striped only on the front part of its body, with its hindquarters a solid, darker brown. The stripes on its head faded to a yellow-ish brown body and made for a creature with a very unique set of markings. This subspecies of the Zebra was hunted to extinction for its meat, hide and to protect feed for the domesticated animals of the time. The last wild Quagga is believed to have been shot in the 1870s, and the last known captive was a mare. She died at the Artis Magistra Zoo in Amsterdam, on 12 August 1883. The only Quagga ever photographed alive was a mare that was at the London Zoo in 1870. For more details, please visit sites listed below. Although the original quagga is now extinct, a breeding-back programme has commenced, through selective breeding of the southern Plains Zebras.
Does a zebra live independently?
Zebras are adapted to live in groups. Solitary zebras are not usually seen, since the zebras travel in groups, or herds.
Are zebra's placental mammals?
yes all mammals are placental.
No, not all animals are placentals. There are also marsupials and monotremes.
The quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra. The first part is the genus name, the second is the species name of the plains zebra, and the third is the subspecies name of the quagga. The scientific name is Equus quagga quagga.
Is a zebra mussel an Exotic Species?
A zebra mussel is a small freshwater mollusc similar to a clam. They are native to several freshwater lakes in southeastern Russia. In recent centuries, they have spread through man-made canals to the Caspian Sea and many lakes and rivers throughout Europe. In the late 20th century, they spread to North America, first appearing in the Great Lakes in 1988. They probably crossed the Atlantic Ocean in ballast tanks of ships that had sailed from freshwater lakes in Europe to the Great Lakes.
Zebra mussels are considered an invasive pest in North America and in some European countries to which they have spread. They breed prolifically, such that even in their native environment, they live in very high densities. In environments to which they have recently migrated, they have a negative impact on the ecosystem by outcompeting native mussels and other filter-feeders. They are a nuisance to humans because huge numbers of them attach themselves to any available surface, including the insides of pipes used for power plants, canal locks, and municipal water supplies.
Yes. Horses and Zebras are of the same species and can mate succesfully.
How do zebras escape from predators?
They hide by standing around in herds. The stripes of each zebra are distinctive (like fingerprints on humans), but when you have a herd standing together and all the animals are striped it makes it harder for a predator to focus on and single-out an individual animal for attack. It appears as a giant screen of stiping.
Depending on the grasslands, just standing still in tall grass may make a zebra's stripes effective camouflage.
Where are zebras generally found?
Zebra's can be found in three different areas in Africa. They can be found in treeless grasslands, savannas and open woodlands. I bet you didn't know that there are three different species of Zebras.
No they are not meat eaters... they eat stems n grasses much like cattle and horses do.
Most zebras normally die because of old age. Once they have reproduced and grown old they die. They can also die with a lack of food. As zebras live in the savanna and its really dry out there, they cant find anything to eat. Due to that it leads to starvation and they eventually die.
The quagga was a sub-species of the Plains Zebra. Unlike other zebras, with their full-body black and white stripes, the quagga was striped only on the front part of its body, with its hindquarters a solid, darker brown. The stripes on its head faded to a yellow-ish brown body and made for a creature with a very unique set of markings.
What is a quagga and how did scientist bring it back from extinction?
It was a subspecies of plains zebra. It's scientific name is Equus quagga quagga. Scientists did not technically bring it back from extinction. They are working on breeding it back, meaning breeding individual plains zebras that look like the Quagga. Numerous other attempts are being made to breed back endangered species that have very close relatives still alive, such as the attempts to breed back the Dire Wolf or Aurochs.
