ANIMAL CURIOSITIES

Curiosities you may not know about zebras

Like horses, zebras belong to the equid family. This herbivore is native to the eastern and southern regions of Africa and, in contrast to the other members of the equidae, is distinguished by its characteristic striped coat.

There are various theories regarding zebras' stripes. For some zoologists, they serve a camouflage mechanism, while for others they play a role in the social interactions of these animals. But not only that, the hypotheses made over the years are numerous. 

Some have even gone so far as to hypothesise that the stripes are a form of defence against insects, which are disturbed by the stripes and therefore less inclined to sting zebras.

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The various theories about zebra stripes
Like horses, zebras belong to the equid family. This herbivore is native to the eastern and southern regions of Africa and, in contrast to the other members of the equidae, is distinguished by its characteristic striped coat. There are various theories regarding zebras' stripes. For some zoologists, they serve a camouflage mechanism, while for others they play a role in the social interactions of these animals.
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Are stripes a defense against insects?
But not only that, the hypotheses made over the years are numerous. Some have even gone so far as to speculate that the stripes are a form of defence against insects, which are disturbed by the stripes and therefore less inclined to sting zebras.
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How zebras communicate
If some speculate that zebras' stripes are a way of social interaction, it has to be said that these animals have many typical gestures with which they interact with each other. These include greeting each other by rubbing noses, rubbing cheeks, nibbling each other's necks, shoulders or backs, but also resting their snouts on each other's backs.
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Group life
Zebras live in groups and each one is dominated by a stallion. When young males reach the age of two to three years, they leave the group and subsequently create their own, stealing females from other groups.
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Gestation and weaning
Gestation of the zebra lasts about twelve months and one foal is bred per season. At birth, the young weigh around 25 kilograms. Weaning takes place at around ten months of age.
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