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OVERVIEW
The Zebra is a cousin of the horse and is found only in Africa. There are many identifiable types of Zebras, one of which is now extinct. These types are Grevy's Zebra, the Mountain Zebra, Burchell's Zebra and the Quagga. Unquestionably, the Zebra is the most exotic of the Equids. Its distinctive stripes while entertaining to the observer, have proven to be a form of camouflage for the Zebra. The Zebra is a wild animal, and reports of its domestication are few. Like many wild Equids - such as the Tarpan and Przewalski horse - the Zebra was threatened by extinction since it was hunted by man. The Quagga of South Africa is now extinct, having been killed off by settlers in the 1800s.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
The most distinctive characteristic of the Zebra is its stripes. Different types of Zebras have varied patterns of stripes. The now extinct Quagga had no stripes on its body, but only on its neck and head. Zebras range in size from 10 to 13 hands. The largest is the 13 hand Grevy Zebra (Equus Grevy) which has narrow stripes and an off-white belly. The muzzle, tips of the ears and ends of the mane are brown. The Mountain Zebra (Equus Zebra) averages about 10 hands in height and is quite wild. Authorities report that it has no sound, unlike other zebras. Burchell's Zebra (Equus Burchelli) has brown stripes on a white background and some have white rather than striped legs.
ORIGIN
The Zebra is found only in Africa, except on the north coast. The different types are found in different areas. Grevy's Zebra is found in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somaliland. The Mountain Zebra is found in South Africa, Namibia and Angola. Burchell's Zebra is found in Northern South Africa.
INFLUENCES
1. Hyracotherium
2. Haplohippus
3. Calippus
4. Equus
