Zebedee, Zara and Zelda

Horses in the wild come from Asia and Africa. The four Zebra species (Plains, Cape Mountain, Hartmann's and Grevy's) come entirely from Africa.

Did you know the stripe pattern on every zebra is unique?

Named after 19th century naturalist James Chapman. This zebra is native to southern Africa from Angola to the Transvaal. It is one of 5 sub-species of Plains Zebras; it has shadow stripes between the main broad stripes, and a thicker layer of protective fat than other species.

Why are there stripes on zebras? There seems no adaptive advantage since zebras live in open country where stripes hold no benefit. There may be a social advantage to stimulate grooming of the neck and shoulders. But that area is the most similar in all four species. Probably the potential for stripes or plain colours, or piebald, skewbald, etc, was pre-programmed in the first horses. All the horses and zebras are undoubtedly related. Their earliest fossils are in the Eocene.

Zebras and horses are grazing animals with one stomach plus a rear end stomach, the caecum for digestion.

Four design features that have contributed to the success of horses are their springy gait, grinding teeth, large size and locking position on their legs that enables them to rest.

Zebras are social animals and live in large herds. Another theory concerning the use of their stripes is that they confuse predators. In a herd it is difficult for a hunting lion to see the outline of an individual zebra.