Zebra Facts

Fact: Black stripes on white or white stripes on black? Some zebras are born with unfully formed stripes that seem to indicate a black background, pigment, or skin color with white stripes. But, how can zebra stripes be useful for camouflage? Since a lion, one of the zebra's main predators, is color blind, the pattern of the zebra's stripes is more crucial than color for the zebra to blend with its background. A mass of blended stripes from a large, moving group of zebras makes it difficult for the lion to plan an attack on any specific zebra. Like fingerprints, zebras have uniquely identifiable stripes -- useful to one another and scientists. They seem to get some kind of pleasure from looking at stripes. Stripes seem to be so important to the zebra that black and white stripes painted on a wall will attract zebras to group near the wall.

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Clourful Zebra

No animal has a more distinctive coat than the zebra. Each animal's stripes are as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike—although each of the three species has its own general pattern.

Why do zebras have stripes at all? Scientists aren't sure, but many theories center on their utility as some form of camouflage. The patterns may make it difficult for predators to identify a single animal from a running herd and distort distance at dawn and dusk. Or they may dissuade insects that recognize only large areas of single-colored fur or act as a kind of natural sunscreen. Because of their uniqueness, stripes may also help zebras recognize one another.

Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. They graze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one another.

Plains (Burchell's) zebras are the most common species. They live in small family groups consisting of a male (stallion), several females, and their young. These units may combine with others to form awe-inspiring herds thousands of head strong, but family members will remain close within the herd.

Zebras must be constantly wary of lions and hyenas. A herd has many eyes alert to danger. If an animal is attacked, its family will come to its defense, circling the wounded zebra and attempting to drive off predators.