Zebra

Zebras are odd-toed ungulates like horses and rhinoceroses.  An ungulate is an animal with hooves (deer, giraffes, antelopes, horses, zebras and rhinoceroses).  Zebras have very good eyesight and sense of smell.  They are able to run very fast.

Zebras are black and white.  Their black and white stripes help them to hide in tall grass and open dry plains.

The black stripes on zebras have an extra layer of fat.  Their black stripes can get up to 18 F (10 C) hotter than their white stripes.

Zebras reach around 53 inches tall and weigh 500-700 pounds.  They are resistant to diseases that affect cattle and zebras usually look well-fed even under poor conditions.

Baby zebras have shorter necks and long legs.  They are born with long, furry hair and their black stripes are initially brown.

Zebras are found in Africa. They live in savannahs, plains and near mountains.  There are 3 types of zebras: Plains, Grevy and Mountain zebras.  Plains Zebras are  not endangered or threatened, but the Grevy and Mountain Zebras are because their habitats are disappearing and they are over-hunted by humans.

Zebras can live up to 40 years old in captivity.  In the wild their lifespan is much shorter.

Zebras are grazers and live in large herds.  They often herd with antelopes.  They are usually shy but are able to defend themselves by kicking with their legs and biting.

A zebra herd is made up of many family groups.  A family group is usually made up of on male and one to six females and their young.  Young zebras leave their herd during their second year and eventually form their own herd.

Zebras in a herd sleep in turns so that some zebras are awake to warn the other zebras of danger.  The leader of the herd uses a neigh signal to tell other zebras when everything is safe.

Zebras eat savannah grasses.  They even eat coarse grass that other animals do not eat.

You can tell when a zebra is calm because its ears point straight up.  If a zebra's ears are pointing forward it is afraid.  If its ears are pointing backward it is angry.

Like our finger prints a zebra's stripes are unique to the zebra.  No two zebras have the same pattern of stripes.

Early Greeks called zebras "Horse Tigers".

Zebras have good night vision.

Zebras can run up to to 35 miles per hour.