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Zebra Funky Facts
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The zebra is actually mostly covered in white and striped with black or dark brown stripes, but underneath their coat is black skin.
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There are different types of zebra, each with a different stripe pattern. The mountain zebra normally has vertical stripes on its neck and across its torso while horizontal strips cover their legs.
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Zebras run in a zig-zag pattern when being chased by a predator to make it more difficult for the predator to run after them.
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The pattern of a zebras stripes are different for each individual zebra, making them each as unique snowflakes!
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The black & white striped pattern of their coats is a good bug repellant, keeping horseflies and other blood-suckers at bay.
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A group of zebras is called a ‘zeal’.
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The Native American culture refers to the zebra as a symbol of balance and sureness of path.
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The Swahili name for the zebra is ‘Punda Milia’.
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Romans used Grévy’s zebras to pull two wheeled carts for their circuses.
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In Roman Circuses the zebra was usually called a ‘Tiger-Horse’ or a ‘Horse-Tiger’.
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When faced by predators, zebras will form a semi-circle and bit, nip or attack the predators if they come to close to them. They will also encircle an injured family member to protect it from further attack if the need arises.
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A mother zebra will keep her foal away from all other zebras for two or three days until the foal can recognize her scent, voice, and appearance.
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Zebras form hierarchies with a Stallion (male) in the lead followed by his Harem (group of females) behind him.
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When traveling with his harem, the stallion will lead them with his head low and his ears laid back.
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Zebra’s bunch together to confuse colorblind predators, such as lions, which mistake the pattern as grass.
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Zebras are one of the few mammals that we believe can see in colour.
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Zebras are actually pretty short and can be 3.5-5 feet tall.
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The Grévy’s zebra is named after Jules Grévy, president of France (in 1882) who received a zebra as a present from the emperor of Abyssinia.
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Another name for Grévy’s Zebras are Imperial Zebras.
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A zebra can run up to 65 km/h or 40 mph.
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To sleep, generally zebras don’t lie down – instead they usually sleep standing up.
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Zebras can rotate their ears in almost any direction; this ability is used to communicate their mood with other zebras.
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Zebras have one toe on each foot.
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Zebras cannot see the colour orange.
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A species of zebra is called ‘Asinus Burchelli’ after a conflict between William John Burchell and John Edward Gray sparked. Burchell brought specimens from Africa to The British Museum and the specimens died. Gray felt the need to Embarrass Burchell because of the incident; the name means “Burchelli’s Ass”.
One of the most commonly asked questions about zebras are, are they white with black strips
Some would say that a zebra is white because its stripes end towards the belly and the belly is mostly white.
Others would say that a zebra is black because if you shaved all the fur off a zebra the skin is mostly black.
But TRUE FACT
The Zebra is ACTUALLY Black with White Stripes.
A Zebra Embryo (Baby Zebra still in its mommys tummy) is completly Black and its not till that its just born that it starts getting its White stripes
How do Zebra's Know Other Zebra's Apart ?
A Zebra's STRIPES is how Zebra's Recognise and tell each other apart.
A Zebra's STRIPES are Like Human Fingerprints, where its Stripes are individually Unique to Only ONE Zebra, in the same way our Fingerprints are Individually Unique to Us !
Why Does a Zebra have Stripes ?
This question has puzzled scientists for centuries.
There are numerous theories, 5 to be exact of why Zebra's Have Stripes.
1- To Repel Blood Sucking Insects
2-To Provide Camouflage
3-To Confuse Preditors
4-To Reduce Body Temperature
5-To Help Zebra's Recognise One Another
Are They Black or White?
Zebra VS Horses
How do Zebra's Compare to a Horse?
1- HEIGHT
2-WEIGHT
3-SPEED They do not have the speed of a horse but have a large amount of stamina and can gallop for long periods.
4-DOMESTCATION Attempts have been made to train zebras for riding, since they have better resistance than horses to African diseases. Most of these attempts failed, though, due to the zebra's more unpredictable nature and tendency to panic under stress. One other reason zebras are not popular to ride or drive: when they bite they do not let go. They are sort of a equine pit bull
5-LIFESPAN
There are three different species of Zebra that are found in Africa which are the Common Zebra (also known as the Plains Zebra and the Burchell's Zebra), the Grevy's Zebra (also known as the Imperial Zebra) and the Mountain Zebra.
Curiously, the farther south on the African plains the zebra lives, the father apart its stripes will be.
The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but Grévy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, to which it is closely related, while the former two are more horse-like. All three belong to the genus Equus, along with other living equids.