Equus_zebra Equus_zebra

Equus zebra - Definition and Overview

Mountain Zebra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Perissodactyla
Family:Equidae
Genus:Equus
Species:zebra
Binomial name
Equus zebra
Subspecies

E. zebra zebra
E. zebra hartmanni

The Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) is one of the three extant species of zebra. There are two subspecies:

  • Cape Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra zebra
  • Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra hartmanni

Hartmann's Mountain Zebra is native to South West Africa and is found in dry, stony, mountain and hill habitats. Its diet is tufted grass, bark, leaves, fruit and roots.

Hartmann's Mountain Zebras prefer to live in small groups of 7–12 individuals. They are agile climbers, able to live in arid conditions in steep mountainous country.

Zebras' dazzling stripes may be a signalling system for the herd and may also be useful in confusing predators.

Some populations are protected in national parks. There is a European zoo's Endangered Species Programme for this zebra as well as co-operative management of zoo populations worldwide.

image:zebra.zoo.300pix.jpg
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra
Larger version

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