The Zebra

The Zebra

Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, like

 human finger prints.

When in a herd, the stripes merge into a giant mass, making it

hard for predators to single out individual animals. Their stripy coat

is believed to disperse more than 70% of heat, preventing them

from overheating in the sun.

They usually live in small family groups called herds. The leader of

the herd stays at the back of the group to protect against

predators. A zebra's foal is dark brown and white at birth. They

can walk just 20 minutes after birth and run after an hour.

Their eyesight at night is as good as that of a cat or an owl. They

are dependent on water. They need to drink every day so they

do not move far from watering holes. Zebras are highly social and

will only go to sleep if they are close to neighbors, so they can be

warned if a predator approaches. They also like to graze together

and groom each other. They can run at speeds of up to 56km per

hour (34 miles). They combine this speed with great stoamina and

zigzag motion to evade predators chasing them.

They communicate with each other throUgh various vocal

expressions and through the position of their ears and tails. They

can turn their ears in almost any direction and use this to

communicate their mood. For example, when the ears are pulled

backward, they are angry, and when pointed up, they are calm

and friendly.