Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about
Things you didn't know about zebras
by ZSL on
January 31st, 2020
There's more to zebras than their stripy coats! From sleeping standing up to unusual eating habitats, Gemma Metcalf, Mammal Keeper at ZSL London Zoo, gives us the lowdown on these iconic animals.
1. There are three species of zebra
Found across the shrublands, grasslands and savannahs of Africa, zebras are closely related to horses and donkeys. There are three recognised zebra species: Grevy's zebras can be identified by their thinner stripes; mountain zebras have vertical stripes on their bodies with horizontal stripes on their legs; while plains zebras have faint brown stripes between their black stripes.
2. Some zebras have spots!
Zebras don't come into the world black and white; foals are born with brown and white stripes, which darken as they grow. Some zebras have spots as well as stripes, as can be seen in our herd at ZSL London Zoo.
3. How did the zebra get its stripes?
Just as every human has a unique set of fingerprints, every zebra has a unique stripe pattern. We are still not entirely sure how the zebra got its stripes, but there are many theories. One is that they may provide a dazzling form of camouflage against predators such a lions. When zebras are moving in a herd, their stripe patterns could make it hard to attackers to pick out individual animals. Their distinctive coats may also help zebras to recognise each other. Another theory is their markings prevent attacks from disease-carrying horseflies, which avoid striped surfaces. Scientists have also suggested that their stripes help to regulate their body temperature, and could even act as a natural sunscreen.
4. A group of zebras is called a dazzle
Did you know that a herd of zebras can alternatively be known as a dazzle? In the wild, zebras live in sociable groups. Plains zebras and mountain zebras tend to live in family groups made up of a dominant male, several females and their young, while Grevy's zebras often form individual units of mares and foals. Their sociable nature can be seen at our Zoos - the zebras are always together and follow each other everywhere.
5. Zebras are seriously chatty animals
Whinnies, barks, snorts and sniffs are just some of the noises they use to communicate. The group at ZSL London Zoo is certainly vocal. Zebras communicate non-verbally too, using their ears to indicate their mood. If their friend is stealing their hay and they're not happy, they put their ears flat back and bare their teeth. If their ears are pricked and forwards, they're paying attention to something going on.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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