zebra

[[image:zebra-30g.jpg width="230" height="236" align="left"]]
by: Danielle Equus burchelli

__Size__
The body height of a mountain zebra is 220 cm/ 7.3 ft tall. The soulder height is 120-130 cm/ 4-4.3 ft tall. The tail height is 50 cm/ 20 in. The weight is 260-370 kg/ 572-814 ib. http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Perissodactyla/Equus_zebra.html African version of the horse. Portly build. Male wt 550 lb (250 kg), ht 51-56 in (127-140 cm); female wt 484 (220 kg), ht slightly shorter than male. Color: no gender difference; background white to buff color; striping varies geographically (and individually), most complete and bold in equatorial race //(E. b. boehmi)//, decreasing toward southern Africa, where //E. b. antiquotum// and //butchelli// have unstriped lower legs and belly and shadow stripes between black torso stripes. Juvenile coat longer with brown stripes. http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/zebratxt.html

__Diet__
Zebras are herbivores, and live on open grasslands where there is plenty of food. They mostly eat grass. http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/animals/animals/mammals/zebra.html

__Lifespan__
Zebras can live up to 40 years in captivity, in the wild their expectancy is much shorter about nine years. http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/animals/animals/mammals/zebra.html

__Offspring__
Female zebras give birth to a single baby after a 360 to 396 day pregnancy. Babies can walk within 15 minutes of birth, but will stay with their mothers until they are around a year old. http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/animals/animals/mammals/zebra.html Foals born in most months but a definite annual birth/mating peak early in the rains (Dec.-Jan. in East Africa). Mares in good condition conceive during the following "foal heat"; others reproduce at 2-year intervals. First foals at 3 to 3.5 years. http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/zebratxt.html

__Habitat__
Live in mesic grasslands and are capable of migrating long distances. Their ability to utilize coarser vegetation of poorer quality means that they can thrive and survive in a range of habitats. http://www.answers.com/topic/plains-zebra

__Population__
Occurs in eastern sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia to Nambidia, Botswana, and South Africa. The largest populations occur in Kenya and Tanzania. http://www.answers.com/topic/plains-zebra

__Range__
Africa and South America are two places that you can find the plain zebra. http://www.answers.com/topic/plains-zebra From southeastern Sudan to South Africa and west to Angola, in Somali-Masai Arid Zone, Southern Savanna, and South West Arid Zone. The extinct South African quagga, striped only on head, neck, and back, was probably not a different species but a distinctive subspecies adapted to the temperate highveld and arid Karroo. Quagga, the Hottentot name, may come from the qua.ha contact call of the plains zebra. http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/zebratxt.html

__Offspring__
Polygamous. Polyestrous, and most foals are born during the rainy season. Age of puberty has been estimated at 15–22 months in the female. Males can reach puberty at 24 months, but rarely take over harems until they are older. Gestation is 12 months. Normally, less than 50% of the females had foals in any year. Throughout the species range, mortality rate can vary in the first year, from 19–47%. Adult mortality is lower and varies from 3–17%. http://www.answers.com/topic/plains-zebra

__Interesting facts__
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2763265486624684106&q=plain+zebra&hl=en This website is zebras on the run. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=746900813873901099&q=plain+zebra&hl=en

__More links__
[|http://blindftp.exis.net/~spook/zebratxt.html] http://www.zebra.com/ Go to this website to become a member of the zebra club. http://www.ultimateungulate.com/contact.html Go to this website for any questions.