Mountain zebras (Equus zebra) are African mammals with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. Their dazzling stripes make them among the most recognizable mammals. Mountain zebras are so-called due to their amazing climbing ability, allowing them to easily take over steep, rugged surfaces. They have developed considerably tougher and more pointed hooves than those of other equine species.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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BrowsingBrowsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growi...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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HerdingA herd is a social grouping of certain animals of the same species, either wild or domestic. The form of collective animal behavior associated with...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Altitudinal MigrantAltitudinal migration is a short-distance animal migration from lower altitudes to higher altitudes and back. Altitudinal migrants change their ele...
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Black And White AnimalsMountain zebras are boldly striped in black or dark brown, and no two individuals look exactly alike. The whole body is striped except for the belly. In the Cape mountain zebra, the ground color is effectively white, but the ground color in Hartmann's zebra is slightly buff. Additionally, Mountain zebras have so-called 'dewlap" - a thin piece of skin on their throat. The dewlap is more conspicuous in males.
Mountain zebras are represented by two sub-species. These are Cape mountain zebras, inhabiting South Africa; and Hartmann's mountain zebra subspecies, occurring in scattered parts of Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. As the common name of the species suggests, Mountain zebras prefer living on mountainous slopes and plateaus. Meanwhile, the Cape mountain zebra subspecies are found at heights of up to 2,000 m above sea level. During the cold winter months, they migrate to lower elevations. Hartmann’s mountain zebras, on the other hand, constantly move between mountains and salt flats.
Mountain zebras lead a diurnal lifestyle, being active by day and sleeping by night. They exhibit increased activity at dawn and dusk. Nearly half of their active time is spent feeding. In addition, they take dust baths 1-2 times per day. Mountain zebras are gregarious creatures, forming small herds, typically harems, consisting of a single mature male as well as 1-5 mature females with their offspring. This species never occurs in large herds. Male zebras are called stallions and females are known as mares. The stallion dominates, defends, and leads the herd. Two or more herds occasionally gather in temporary units of up to 30 animals. With the onset of the winter, herds may travel up to 20 km (12.4 mi) to find a water supply. They can water at both day and night, although in areas with excessive hunting, they usually water during the night.
Mountain zebras maintain a herbivorous (graminivorous, folivorous) diet, which is generally composed of grass. In times of shortage, they browse, eating bark, twigs, leaves, buds, fruit, and roots.
Mountain zebras have a polygynous mating system. They form small breeding herds, in which the dominant male mates with the females of the herd. Although they may breed at any time of the year, Cape mountain zebras generally do so in December-January, while Hartmann’s mountain zebras breed between November and April. Females produce offspring at intervals of 1-3 years. The gestation period lasts for as long as 1 year, yielding a single foal. Weaning occurs at 10 months old. Then, between 13 and 37 months old, foals leave their natal herd. Female Mountain zebras start to produce offspring from 3-6 years of age and are able to do so until they are 24 years old.
Threats to the population of this vulnerable species are many. Thus, the Mountain zebras presently suffer from hunting and persecution throughout their range. These animals are facing the loss of their natural habitat, as a result of agricultural development. On the other hand, they are threatened by competition for resources with domestic livestock. And finally, the two Mountain zebra subspecies are potentially threatened by interbreeding and resulting fusion.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population of Mountain zebras is estimated at around 9,000 mature individuals. The current total population size of the Cape mountain zebra subspecies is 1,500 individuals (500 mature individuals). On the other hand, the population of Hartmann’s mountain zebra subspecies is estimated at around 25,000 animals, 8,300 of which are mature individuals. Overall, Mountain zebras are currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are increasing.
Due to their habit of grazing, Mountain zebras are likely to be important seed dispersers of the plants they consume. Moreover, they are believed to generate habitats for smaller animals such as mesopredators through grazing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...