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| Latin name | Equus grevyi |
| Length | 210 - 300cm (83 - 118in) |
| Height | 1.25 - 1.5M (49 - 63in) |
| Weight | 350 - 430kg (780 - 950lb) |
| Gestation | 380 - 390 days |
| No. of young | 1 |
| Lifespan | 20 - 25 years in the wild 25 - 30 in captivity |
Zebras are members of the horse family called equids. Zebras belong to an order of mammals known as the odd-toed ungulates (hoofed grazers). The Grevy's Zebra is the largest and most solitary of all types of Zebra.
Grevy's Zebra are found in the Somalia, Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. They live in the semi and scrub grasslands.
Their diet consists of a variety of grasses. They are beneficial to other wild grazers, as they will eat tops of coarse grasses that other herbivores find difficult to digest.
A herd will usually move from their night time resting ground to a chosen pasture. They feed all day, only resting at midday, moving slowly from one patch of grass to another.
Although female zebras can actually mate every few weeks, the births usually occur during the rainy season, when the grass is most plentiful. The birth of a foal is a solitary affair with the female being on her own rather than in a herd.
A foal is up on its feet in about ten minutes and within an hour it is walking. Shortly afterwards they will be trotting and cantering after the female.
Zebras have long muzzles with deep jaws that have 40-42 teeth constantly growing teeth. These are needed to crop and grind the quantities of grass that is required by them.
The Grevy's Zebra has dark brown stripes on its body which are narrow and positioned close together. The stripes curve up on the zebra's haunches. The stripes do not cover its white belly. It has an upright mane and large ears which are covered with thick hair inside.
Like horses, zebras have a single toe, in which the nail has developed into a horny, protective outer wall, known as the hoof.
Zebras have excellent hearing and sense of smell. This means that they will often be able to spot predators before the other animals that they graze with.
If necessary, a zebra stallion will attack predators, kicking out with its hind legs. A well aimed kick from them can smash the skull of a hunting dog or inflict serious injury on a lion. The teeth of zebra stallions are sharp and pointed and they have been known to grab an attacking hyena in their mouths and fling it in the air.
Grevy's Zebra are unusual as they do not form long lasting bonds like Plains Zebra will do. Their groups may change on an hourly basis. Zebras can neigh like horses!
Grevy's Zebra are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. They face competition with domestic livestock for grazing areas and they are also heavily hunted for their skins. Grevy's Zebra are protected by C.I.T.E.S (Conservation for International Trade in Endangered Species) and listed as threatened by UFWS (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare).
- The three distinct species of Zebra are no more closely related to each other than they are to horses and asses.
- When grooming itself, the zebra is particularly fond of rolling in the mud. When the mud dries and is shaken off, loose hair and dry skin is pulled away.