Common Zebra

Size: HB 217-246cm. T 47-57cm. SH 127-140cm. W 175-250kg (female), 220-322kg (male).

Description: A muscular horse with relatively short neck and sturdy legs. The stripes are subject to much regional and individual variation. Patterns are better illustrated than described (see opposite and overleaf).

Food: Grass of the most available species. Adaptable grazers, they mow short lawns close to the roots but are equally able to take taller flowering grasses. Water shortage may concentrate zebra populations around available waterholes during the dry season. Daily activity is dominated by shifts from open night-time resting areas to pastures, to water and back to sleep or rest.
Behaviour: Up to 6 females and their young live in very stable 'harems' where they are subject to low-key but continuous coercion by the harem stallion. He herds the females in his group whenever they stray and threatens males that come too close. The number of females appears to be limited by the intolerance of established females against incomers. Common Zebras are extremely vocal, the adult males being particularly noisy during any nocturnal movement. For each social unit the stallion's individual 'song' (a glottal, barking bray) becomes the focal point for all harem members. Individuals which become separated from their group seek it with every sign of distress while the stallion too calls and searches until the group is reunited. Normally only harem stallions mate with harem mares but neighbours and bachelor groups show intense interest in any oestrous females. One foal (rarely 2) is born after a 12-month gestation. Foals suck milk for up to 6 months but begin to graze in the first month. They are sexually mature by 11‚¼2-3 years but females cycle without conceiving for a year or two and males seldom acquire harems before 5 years of age. Common Zebras are known to live for 40 years