Grevy's zebra

Grévy's Zebra
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae Genus: Equus Species: E. grevyi
Binomial name
Equus grevyi Oustalet, 1882
Range map

Grévy's zebra is the common name for the largest species of zebra, Equus grevyi, characterized by large, rounded ears, erect and striped mane, and a short coat with narrow black and white stripes. Also known as the Imperial zebra, it is the largest wild member of the horse family Equidae. This odd-toed ungulate is found in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Grévy's zebra was the first zebra to be discovered by the Europeans and was used by the ancient Romans in circuses. Later, it was largely forgotten about in the Western world until the seventeenth century.

Overview and description

Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi) is a member of the Equidae, a family of odd-toed ungulate mammals of horses and horse-like animals. There are three basic groups recognized in Equidae—horses, asses, and zebras—although all extant equids are in the same genus of Equus.

Grévy's zebra is one of three or four extant species of zebras. The other extant species are the plains zebra (E. quagga), the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra) and the Hartmann's mountain zebra (E. hartmannae), which are placed together in the subgenus Hippotigris. The Cape mountain zebra and Hartmann's mountain zebra are sometimes treated as the same species. Grévy's zebra (E. grevyi) is placed in its own subgenus of Dolichohippus. In many respects, it is more akin to the asses (subgenus Asinus), while the other zebras are more closely related to the horses (subgenus Equus). In certain regions of Kenya, the plains zebras and Grevy's zebras coexist.

Compared to other zebras, Grévy's zebra is tall, has large ears, and its stripes are narrower. The species is named after Jules Grévy, a president of France, who, in the 1880s, was given one by the government of Abyssinia. In certain regions of Kenya, the plains zebras and Grévy's zebras coexist.

Grévy's zebra differs from the other two zebras in its primitive characteristics and different behaviour. It was the first zebra to emerge as a species. All members of the family are of the genus Equus, but the genus is commonly subdivided into four subgenera; Equus, Asinus, Hippotigris and Dolichohippus. The Plains zebra and Mountain zebra belong to Hippotigris, but Grévy's zebra is the sole species of Dolichohippus. In many respects, it is more akin to the asses. Nevertheless, DNA and molecular data show that zebras do indeed have monophyletic origins.

Physical description

Grévy's zebra is the largest of all wild equines. It is 2.5-2.75 m (8-9 ft) from head to tail with a 38-75 cm (15-30 in) tail, and stands 1.45-1.6 m (4'7"-5'3") high at the shoulder. These zebras weigh 350-450 kg (770-990 lb). The stripes are narrow and close-set, being broader on the neck, and they extend to the hooves. The belly and the area around the base of the tail lack stripes. With all of the stripes closer together and thinner than most of the other zebras, it is easier to make a good escape and to hide from predators. The ears are very large, rounded, and conical. The head is large, long, and narrow, particularly mule-like in appearance. The mane is tall and erect; juveniles having a mane extending the length of the back.

Diet and Feeding

Grévy's zebra feed mostly on grasses but they will also eat fruit, shrubs and bark. They may spend 60-80% of their days eating, depending on the availability of food. Their well adapted digestive system allows them to subsist on diets of lower nutritional quality than that necessary for herbivores. Also, Grévy's zebras require less water than other zebras.

Lifestyle

Wild mare in Kenya

Grévy's zebra is similar to the ass in many ways. Behaviourally, for example, it has a social system characterised by small groups of adults associated for short time periods of a few months. Adult males spend their time mostly alone in territories of 2-12 km², which is considerably smaller than the territories of the wild asses. The social structure of Grévy's zebra is well-adapted for the dry and arid scrubland and plains that it primarily inhabits, in contrast to the more lush habitats used by the other zebras. It communicates over long distances.

The territories are marked by dung piles and females who wander within the territory mate solely with the resident male. Small bachelor herds are known. Like all zebras and asses, males fight amongst themselves over territory and females. The species is vocal during fights (an asinine characteristic), braying loudly. However unlike other zebras, territory holding Grévy's zebra males will tolerate other males who wander in their territory possibly because non-resident males do not try to mate with the resident male's females nor interfere in his breeding activities.

Grévy's zebra at the Henry Doorly Zoo

Reproduction

Grévy's zebras mate year-round. Gestation of the zebra lasts 350-400 days, with a single foal being born. A newborn zebra will follow anything that moves and thus new mothers are highly aggressive towards other mares a few hours after they give birth. This prevents the foal from imprinting another female as its mother. To adapt to an arid lifestyle, Grévy's zebra foals take longer intervals between suckling bouts and do not drink water until they are 3 months old. They also reach independence from the mare sooner than other equids.

Status

Grévy's zebra is considered endangered, partly due to hunting for its skin, which fetches a high price on the world market. Its also suffers habitat destruction, human disturbances at water holes and competition with domestic grazing animals. There are estimated to be 1,500 - 2,000 Grévy's zebra still living in the wild. They are, however, common in captivity.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Prothero D.R, Schoch R. M, 2003, Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals, The Johns Hopkins University Press
• Churcher, C.S. 1993. Mammalian Species No. 453. American Society of Mammalogists.
• Nowak, R.M. and J.L. Paradiso. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World, Fourth edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London.
• Mother-infant behavior of wild Grévy's zebra: Adaptations for survival in semi-desert East Africa. Becker, CD; Ginsberg, JR Animal Behaviour [ANIM. BEHAV.]. Vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 1111-1118. 1990.
• Equid Specialist Group 1996. [1]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species., World Conservation Union. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered

• Duncan, P. (ed.). 1992. Zebras, Asses, and Horses: An Action Plan for the Conservation of Wild Equids. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

• Grzimek, B., D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade, Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale, 2004. ISBN 0307394913.

• Moehlman, P.D., Rubenstein, D.I. & Kebede, F. 2008. Equus grevyi. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 February 2009.

External links

• Grévy's Zebra: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• ARKive: images and movies of the Grévy's zebra.
• Story of catching endangered Grévy's Zebra for translocation

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