Zebras

Zebras belong to the Equidae family, making them close relatives to horses and donkeys!

A group of zebras is called a “dazzle” or a “zeal” – these fun names come from the way their stripes look when they move together!

Plains zebras can be found across 15 different countries in eastern and southern Africa, from South Sudan to South Africa!

A wild zebra can live up to 25 years, while zebras in zoos often live into their early 30s!

A full-grown plains zebra can weigh between 440 and 990 pounds (200-450 kg) – that’s about as heavy as a grand piano!

Male zebras are called stallions, females are called mares, and babies are called foals!

Zebras are herbivores, which means they only eat plants — mostly grass, but sometimes leaves and bark too!

Each zebra’s stripe pattern is unique, much like human fingerprints.

An adult zebra can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour) — that’s faster than a bicycle!

A zebra’s ears can rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to hear danger coming from any direction!

Zebras have excellent night vision and can see in color, unlike many other mammals!

A zebra’s teeth never stop growing throughout their entire life!

An adult zebra stands about 4–5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters) tall at the shoulder — that’s about as tall as a kitchen counter!

A zebra’s mane stands up naturally and feels like a stiff brush — they don’t have to do anything to make it stick up!

Zebras have a single toe on each foot, protected by a hard hoof, just like horses!

A zebra’s stripes help protect them from biting flies, who have trouble landing on the striped pattern!

Zebras can sleep standing up, and they often post “lookouts” to watch for danger while others rest!

Zebras communicate with facial expressions, including showing their teeth to signal friendship!

Each zebra can recognize every other member of their herd by their unique stripe pattern!

Baby zebras can stand up within 20 minutes of being born!

Zebras clean each other’s coats by nibbling on them with their teeth — it’s called mutual grooming!

Zebras have excellent memories and can remember migration routes spanning hundreds of miles!

Male zebras will sometimes “babysit” the foals while mothers go drinking or grazing!

Zebras often form friendships with other zebras that can last their entire lives!

When zebras run from danger, they follow a zigzag pattern to confuse predators!

Zebras can make at least seven different vocal sounds, including a noise that sounds like a barking dog!

Zebras live in many different African habitats, from grasslands to woodlands to mountainous areas!

During the dry season, some zebras migrate up to 300 miles (500 kilometers) in search of water — that’s like walking across three large cities!

Zebras often hang out with wildebeest because both animals help each other spot predators!

When threatened, zebras can kick with a force strong enough to break a lion’s jaw!

Zebras prefer to live in areas where the grass is short because it helps them spot approaching predators more easily!

In cold weather, zebras huddle together and use their body heat to keep each other warm!

Zebras can survive in areas with very little water because they can digest tough, dry grass that other animals can’t eat!

Zebras take dust baths to protect their skin from sunburn and bug bites!

Some zebras live at heights of up to 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) in the mountains — that’s higher than many clouds!

A zebra’s stripes help confuse predators when the herd moves together, making it hard to pick out a single target!

A baby zebra usually weighs around 55-88 pounds (25-40 kg) at birth — about as much as a large dog!

Mother zebras usually have one baby at a time, and they carry their babies for about 12–13 months before giving birth!

Baby zebras can run within an hour of being born!

A baby zebra’s stripes are brown and white when they’re born, and slowly turn black as they grow up!

Young zebras stay close to their mothers for up to three years before becoming independent!

Female zebras can have their first baby when they’re about three years old!

Baby zebras recognize their mothers by their stripe pattern, call, and smell!

A mother zebra will keep all other zebras away from her newborn for a few days until it can recognize her voice and stripes!

Young zebras practice fighting by play-wrestling with each other, which helps them learn important survival skills!

Baby zebras follow behind their mothers when walking, unlike many other animals where babies walk beside their mothers!

A zebra spends about 60% of their day eating — that’s about 14 hours!

A zebra can eat up to 11 pounds (5 kg) of grass every day — that’s about the weight of 50 apples!

Zebras have special bacteria in their stomachs that help them digest tough grass that other animals can’t eat!

A zebra’s top and bottom front teeth grow at the same height, creating the perfect cutting tool for grass!