The first thing that comes to mind when you think about Africa is probably a herd of zebras grazing across the vast savanna grasslands. Zebras, with their distinctive black and white stripes (forming unique patterns on every individual) have been linked to the African savannas for a long time. While these stripes are their most famous feature, very few people know that they are actually a physical adaptation. The stripes help zebras survive in a habitat that is home to some of the most dangerous predators on Earth.
Zebra Adaptations for Survival
Zebras, along with horses and donkeys, belong to the Equidae family of kingdom Animalia. The three species of zebras on the planet are the plains zebra (Equus quagga), the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), and the mountain zebra (Equus zebra). Although zebras are found in woodlands and on mountain slopes (especially the two sub-species of mountain zebra) their main habitat is the vast open grasslands of the savanna. These grasslands are also home to carnivores like the lion, cheetah, hyena, and wild dogs, with whom the zebra shares a predator-prey relationship.
In these open plains, predators have an advantage: it is very easy for them to spot their prey. If herbivores like the zebra can hold their own against these predators today, it is because of survival adaptations built up over a long time. For zebras, their color pattern, speed, herd behavior, acute senses, and other physical and behavioral traits are the keys to staying alive. The following sections look at each of these adaptations in detail.
Meet the Three Zebra Species
Zebras belong to the genus Equus, which has two sub-genera: Hippotigris and Dolichohippus. Plains zebras and mountain zebras belong to the sub-genus Hippotigris, while Grevy's zebras fall under Dolichohippus. In total, there are seven sub-species of living zebras. Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyi) have no sub-species, plains zebras (Equus quagga, also called Equus burchelli) have five, and mountain zebras (Equus zebra) have two.
Grevy's zebras are now on the endangered species list, while mountain zebras are classified as highly vulnerable. Both plains and mountain zebras look like horses, but Grevy's zebras are often compared to donkeys in appearance. Among the three species, the mountain zebra is the smallest and the Grevy's zebra is the largest.
Plains Zebra
The most common zebra in the world, plains zebras have shorter legs than the other two species. Males are slightly larger than females. Most plains zebras have stripes covering both their back and belly, though some have white bellies. Some have shadow stripes (lines of a lighter shade, like yellowish-brown) in between the black and white stripes.
The stripes on a plains zebra run vertically along the body and become horizontal and wider near the hindquarters. Plains zebras live in large groups called herds. Each herd contains a stallion (male) with mares (females) and young ones called foals. These herds are often seen alongside other grassland animals like wildebeests and antelopes.
Mountain Zebra
There are two sub-species of mountain zebra: the Cape mountain zebra and Hartmann's mountain zebra. As the name suggests, mountain zebras live in the mountainous regions of South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. They are excellent climbers and are found at elevations of 2,000 feet above sea level.
One of their key adaptations is strong, hard, pointed hooves that help them move across rocky terrain. Mountain zebras have white bellies with narrower stripes than plains zebras. Some individuals have dark brown and white stripes, and the stripes are wider on the rump.
One of the most distinctive features of mountain zebras is their dewlap, a hanging fold of loose skin on the neck. Their herds are smaller than those of plains zebras. Usually, a mountain zebra herd has one stallion, a few mares, and their youngest offspring.
Grevy's Zebra
Grevy's zebra is named after the French President Jules Grévy. In 1882, he was the first person to receive a specimen of the animal, a gift from the emperor of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). They are compared to donkeys in appearance, with larger heads, broad necks, brown muzzles, large ears, and erect manes.
Grevy's zebras have narrow stripes that get slightly wider at the neck. The stripes on the legs are well-defined and clear. On their rump, a black stripe runs from the base of the mane all the way to the base of the tail. Unlike the other two species, Grevy's zebras are not usually found in groups, they are solitary, except for mothers roaming with their young ones.
Black and White Stripes
The black and white stripes of a zebra are one of its most important physical adaptations. Beyond helping zebras recognize each other, the stripes help each animal blend into the herd and stay off a predator's radar.
When predators attack a group of animals, they usually go for the weakest one. In a herd of zebras, however, the blending of stripes makes it very hard for a predator to single out and target an individual. The stripes also make it difficult for nocturnal predators to get a clear outline of a zebra in the dark. Even bloodsucking insects like tsetse flies are confused by the stripes when they encounter a herd.
More About Those Stripes
Zoologists believe the black and white stripes work as camouflage. Color-blind predators may get confused between the stripes and the blades of grass around them. Another possible reason is personal identification, the stripe pattern of one zebra does not exactly match another's. Their stripes are often compared to human fingerprints, though it has not yet been proved whether zebras actually use stripe patterns to recognize each other.
A common question is: do zebras have black skin with white stripes, or white skin with black stripes? According to recent studies, it has been suggested that zebras have black skin with white stripes (and a white underbelly in some cases). The true skin color is still a debated subject.
The stripes may also help zebras cool down in hot weather. Black absorbs radiation, so the air near the black stripes heats up, this forces cooler air from the surroundings toward the white stripes. This process cools the animal and creates a shimmer around it that can blur a predator's vision. There is even a 'zebra crossing' named after this striped pattern: the black and white pedestrian crossing painted on roads.
Layer of Fat and Thin Fur Coat
Zebras have a layer of fat under their skin that makes them look fit and healthy. As mentioned, predators tend to target the weakest member of a group. The thick fat layer, combined with the uniform stripes, makes all zebras look alike, so a predator cannot easily spot the weakest one.
The thin layer of fur on a zebra's body also serves two purposes. It keeps insects away in the grasslands, and it helps the zebra stay cool in the intense heat of the zebra's striped habitat, which sits close to the equator.
Size and Body
The body structure of zebras is similar to that of horses and donkeys. The height of an average adult zebra ranges from four to five feet, and the body length can be between seven to nine feet. An adult zebra weighs between 660 to 950 pounds, and sometimes up to 1,000 pounds (especially in Grevy's species).
Zebras have strong, rounded, muscular bodies with long legs and one toe on each foot. Their snouts are large, and the ears are long, tapering, and upright. The eyes are set high on the forehead, giving them a wide field of vision. They have strong incisor teeth and high-crowned molar teeth to chew and grind grass.
A zebra's mane starts at the upper forehead and extends to the shoulder. It is erect, striped, and bordered with black. The backbone is straight and the tail is long, ending in a bunch of black and white hair. The most striking feature that separates zebras from horses and donkeys is, of course, the stripes.
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Herd Behavior
Like many other herbivores on the African savanna, zebras use herd behavior as a key survival strategy. Without the group, a lone zebra (and other hoofed animals) becomes easy prey. When a zebra herd is resting or foraging, one individual always keeps watch for anything suspicious. If it detects a threat, it warns the others by snorting loudly, giving everyone a chance to escape.
Strong Legs and Hooves
With the ability to reach 40 mph, zebras are impressive runners. Their long legs and well-developed hooves play a big part in making them fast. At the same time, strong muscles and large lungs let them cover great distances without tiring. This matters because large predators like lions cannot sustain a chase over long distances.
When a zebra is chased by a predator such as a lion or a hyena, it runs fast from side to side in a zigzag pattern. This technique confuses the predator. Their hooves are not only for running, though. Zebras can deliver a powerful kick that is capable of killing a hyena or cheetah, and can leave an African lion seriously injured.
Senses and Speed
Zebras have excellent vision, with both day and night sight, and they are believed to have color vision too. Their sense of smell and hearing are very keen, they can detect distant sounds and are highly sensitive to smoke. Their gait is similar to horses, though they are not quite as fast. Zebras walk, graze, run, gallop, and trot, and once cornered they bite or kick with their back hooves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main adaptations of a zebra?
Black-and-white stripes for camouflage, a 40 mph sprint, powerful hooves, herd behavior with a sentinel on watch, a fat layer to look fit, thin fur for cooling, and a gut built for hind-gut fermentation.
How fast can zebras run?
Zebras can run up to 40 mph, and they escape by running in a side-to-side zigzag pattern that confuses a chasing lion or hyena.
How do zebra stripes protect them from predators?
The stripes blend individual zebras into the herd, making it hard for predators to single one out. They also confuse nocturnal predators and even deter bloodsucking insects like tsetse flies.
How many species of zebra are there?
There are three species: the plains zebra (Equus quagga), the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), and the mountain zebra (Equus zebra). The Grevy's zebra is the largest and the mountain zebra is the smallest.
How big are zebras and how long do they live?
An adult zebra stands four to five feet tall, is seven to nine feet long, and weighs 660 to 950 pounds (up to 1,000 pounds in Grevy's zebras). Wild zebras live up to 25 years; captive zebras live 30 to 40 years.
Are zebras black with white stripes or white with black stripes?
Recent studies suggest zebras have black skin with white stripes (and a white underbelly in some cases), though the true skin color is still a debated subject.
Dietary Adaptations
Zebras have a matched set of strong incisors and flexible lips that let them graze on any type of grass (soft, hard, tall, or short) with ease. They also have a single stomach and the ability to use hind-gut fermentation, which lets them collect a large amount of forage in their body within 24 hours.
Zebras are herbivorous mammals, and their diet mainly consists of grass. Sometimes it also includes buds, roots, fruits, leaves, and the bark of trees. They need a huge quantity of food to meet their daily nutritional needs, so most of the daytime is spent chewing. The sharp front teeth bite the grass, while the strong, blunt molar teeth grind the food. A zebra's teeth grow throughout its life, because constant chewing causes wear and tear.
Where They Live
Zebras live across a wide range of habitats, mountains, hills, woodlands, grasslands, and savannahs. Plains zebras prefer grassland with trees and are usually found near a water source; they live in southern and east Africa. Mountain zebras, true to their name, live in the cool mountains of southwest Africa, where they are expert climbers and enjoy dust baths. Grevy's zebras mostly live in desert-like habitats in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Baby Zebras
Female zebras reach reproductive age at around three years, while males can breed only from the age of five or six. The gestation period is 12 months, after which the female gives birth to a single foal. The newborn foal has brownish-black and white stripes. It can stand up soon after birth and can run within an hour, and it feeds on the mother's milk for about 12 months.
The whole family unit (including the stallion and the mother) cares for the foal. In Grevy's zebras, the foal is cared for by the mother alone. The lifespan of captive zebras is around 30 to 40 years, while wild zebras live up to 25 years.
How Zebras Live Together
Except for Grevy's zebras, most zebras are found in large groups called herds, made up of smaller units called harems. Each small unit has one stallion, several mares, and their young ones. Zebras within a group can recognize each other. The adult male is considered the head of the group, but the females choose the direction of movement.
Zebras show strong social bonds. They often nibble at each other, rub their heads and shoulders, and sniff. Fights break out occasionally and involve biting the legs and kicking. They communicate using barks, brays, sniffs, and snorts. Barks and brays signal alert; a sniff is a greeting; snorts signal tension. Zebras can even sleep while standing during the daytime, as long as other members of the group are awake to warn them about predators.
Zebras are intelligent social animals. Although they cannot be tamed like horses and donkeys, they are kept in zoos. Some species are already extinct (like the Quagga) and others are endangered. Protecting them from hunting and habitat loss is the best way to help this beautifully striped animal survive.
Adaptations All Working Together
All of these adaptations work together to keep the zebra alive. The main threat in its natural habitat is predation, and the species has adapted well to deal with each type of predator it faces. If an African lion gives chase, the zebra's speed over long distances is its best defense. If a cheetah, hyena, or wild dogs attack, the zebra can fight back with its strong hooves and teeth, and a well-placed kick can even kill the attacker.
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