Class: Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Scientific Name: Equus burchelli

Range: Ethiopia, Somalia to northern South Africa

Habitat: Open grassy plains and well-grassed woodlands

Diet: Wild: Grasses, leaves, scrub, rhizomes, corms Zoo: D&H pellets, hay, vitamins

Gestation: 12 months

Litter: 1

Description: Grant’s Zebra has short, narrow ears and stands at 50 to 55 inches. The weight is from 500 to 700 lbs. The upright mane is of stiff hair. The legs are striped to the hooves. They live in family groups of 5 to 20, but in the dry season they assemble by the hundreds, joining other ungulates. Mainly grazers, they do browse on leaves and scrub at times. In the dry season they dig for roots and rhizomes. They are highly dependent on water and do not leave water holes for very long. They usually drink daily. In the dry season they may wander great distances seeking water. Rival stallions fight fiercely by kicking and biting during rutting. Mares are grouped together by a lead stallion to form a family herd. Mares have two inguinal teats, and their milk is rich in lactose. Foals suckle until 5 to 8 months of age. Studies with embryos show that the Africans, who regard the zebra as a black animal with white stripes, were right. The Europeans, who mostly held the opposite view, were wrong.Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, just as humans have unique fingerprints. Zebras can run at up to 60 m.p.h.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the African Plains at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.