Plains Zebra

Plains Zebras are herd-living African ungulates inhabiting grasslands where they do graze on plants and grasses.

The basis of the herd consists of harems of single male and one to six unrelated females with offspring. Females give after 12 months of pregnancy birth to single foal. Young individuals of both sexes leave the harem voluntarily when they reach puberty at the age of 16 to 22 months. Young males form bachelor groups and join the fights for females when they reach 4 years of age approximately.

Black and white striping is distinguishing feature among zebra species, where width and frequency of the stripes is important. It is also a form of mimic colouring: when the herd runs or when the hot air shimmers the individual is poorly identifiable among the others for the predator.