They call her "a horse in a sailor suit", she looks very friendly, but you should not try to stroke her: her temper is wild and her teeth are strong. Of course, we are talking about a zebra. Zebras are the only close relatives of the famous Przewalski's horses.
Why does a zebra need a striped skin?
Zebra is a small striped horse. Its second name is "a horse in a sailor suit". Curiously, the outstanding black and white zebra skin is not a camouflage or even patronizing coloration. This is the conclusion reached by modern zoologists. However, scientists still cannot explain why the zebra needs such a unique coloring. True, among researchers there is one version: supposedly by the unique pattern of stripes, zebras can distinguish each other. It's worth noting that this is just a guess.
What are zebras?
Currently, only three species of zebras have survived on Earth: mountain, savanna, and desert. Zebras have mastered only the African expanses, but this is quite enough for them - their natural habitat is quite large! For example, desert zebras are found only in arid areas: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia. This species of "minke whales" is well adapted to living in unfavorable conditions in the absence of water and food. They stand up to heat and heat.
The smallest type of "horses in sailors" are mountain zebras. They live in South West Africa and Angola. Unfortunately, mountain zebras are an endangered species of animals, therefore they are listed in the Red Book. Currently, their number does not exceed 700 individuals. The most common species of these horses is the savannah (or burchella) zebra. It is widespread in the savannas in southern and eastern Africa.
Savannah zebras lifestyle
Unfortunately, the soil in savannahs is poor in nutrients, so the main food of savannah zebras is shrubs, undersized trees and grass. These plants form the main diet of these animals. It is vitally important for striped horses to always be near a watering hole, as the African land tends to dry out completely between the rainy seasons. If the zebra is thirsty, but there is no water nearby, then she will not be too lazy to dig a small hole-well with her hoof. A subtle sense of smell helps to determine where exactly in the soil water is hiding.
Most often, zebras, like ordinary horses, are kept in herds. Zoologists note that often lonely zebras can join a herd of giraffes, since alone they are defenseless creatures. The main enemies of all zebras, without exception, are lions. Other enemies include hyenas and crocodiles attacking zebras from bodies of water as they approach to quench their thirst. Not a single herd of these African horses can do without their leader, who exercises "general control" over the rest. Families in zebras resemble a harem: they consist of several females and one male. It is curious that males never share their harem with anyone.
Interesting about zebras
As you know, Africa is home to the most dangerous fly in the world called tsetse. But she's not scary for zebras! The fact is that zebras are the only animals that are never attacked by the tsetse fly under any circumstances. And all thanks to the specific black and white color of its skin. The tsetse fly is simply not able to perceive the striped cloven-hoofed animal as a living object, since black and white stripes create the visual effect of flickering in front of the insect's eyes, without interest. That's why zebras need stripes!
