Grant's Zebra
Encyclopedia
The Grant's Zebra is the smallest of six subspecies
of the Plains Zebra
.
west of the Luangwa
river and west to Kariba
, Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, north to the Kibanzao Plateau. In Tanzania
north from Nyangaui and Kibwezi
into southwestern Kenya
as far as Sotik. It can also be found in eastern Kenya and east of the Great Rift Valley
into southernmost Ethiopia
. Perhaps it also occurs as far as the Juba River in Somalia
.
cannot be distinguished cranially and that they differ only slightly from other northern plains zebras. The rather minor size difference does not justify a separate sub-specific status for the Upper Zambezi Zebra. Therefore, they combine these zebras with the Grant's Zebra (Equus quagga boehmi).
Grant’s zebras grow to be about 120–140 cm tall, and generally weigh about 300 kg. The zebras live in family groups of up to 17 or 18 zebras, and they are led by a single stallion (Pueblo Zoo). Grant’s zebras live an average of 20 years in the world and are very well adapted to life in the world.
, Somalia
, Sudan
, Ethiopia
, and Uganda
have caused dramatic declines in all wildlife populations, including those of Grant’s zebra. It is now extinct in Burundi
. Civil war in Angola
during much of the past 25 years has devastated its wildlife populations, including its once-abundant plains zebra, and destroyed the national parks administration and infrastructure. Consequently, the Grant's Zebra is probably extinct or nearly so in Angola, although confirmation will have to wait until future surveys are conducted.
There are more Grant’s zebras in the wild than any other species or subspecies of zebras. Unlike Grevy and Mountain zebras, they are not endangered. Grant’s zebras eat the coarse grasses that grow on the African plains, and they are resistant to diseases that often kill cattle (Pueblo Zoo), so the zebras do well in the African savannas. However, recent civil wars and political conflicts in the African countries near their habitats has caused regional extinction., and sometimes zebras are killed for their coats, or to eliminate competition with domestic livestock.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Plains Zebra
Plains Zebra
The plains zebra , also known as the common zebra or Burchell's zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. It ranges from the south of Ethiopia through East Africa to as far south as Angola and eastern South Africa...
.
Distribution
The distribution of this subspecies is in ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
west of the Luangwa
Luangwa
Luangwa may refer to:*Luangwa River, the major river of eastern Zambia;*the Luangwa Bridge, which crosses the Luangwa River*the Luangwa Valley, a rift valley branch of the Great Rift Valley, named after the Luangwa River flowing in it;...
river and west to Kariba
Kariba
Kariba is a town in Mashonaland West province, Zimbabwe, located close to the Kariba Dam at the northwestern end of Lake Kariba, near the Zambian border. According to the 1992 Population Census, the town had a population of 20,736....
, Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, north to the Kibanzao Plateau. In Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
north from Nyangaui and Kibwezi
Kibwezi
Kibwezi is a town in Makueni District, Eastern Province, Kenya.Kibwezi town is the headquarters of Kibwezi division, one of 15 administrative divisions in Makueni District. The division has a population of 80,236, of whom 4,695 are classified urban. The division has four locations: Kikumbulyu,...
into southwestern Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
as far as Sotik. It can also be found in eastern Kenya and east of the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
into southernmost Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Perhaps it also occurs as far as the Juba River in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
Upper Zambezi Zebras
Duncan (1992) recognized the Upper Zambezi Zebra (Equus quagga zambeziensis Prazak, 1898). Groves and Bell (2004) come to the conclusion that the zebras from West Zambia and MalawiMalawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
cannot be distinguished cranially and that they differ only slightly from other northern plains zebras. The rather minor size difference does not justify a separate sub-specific status for the Upper Zambezi Zebra. Therefore, they combine these zebras with the Grant's Zebra (Equus quagga boehmi).
Characteristics
This northern subspecies is vertically striped in front, horizontally on the back legs, and diagonally on the rump and hind flanks. Shadow stripes are absent or only poorly expressed. The stripes, as well as the inner-spaces, are broad and well defined. Northerly specimens may lack a mane. They have been known to nibble on each others butts. This completely nameless Somali population may represent even a seventh subspecies: Equus quagga isabella (Ziccardi, 1958). This subspecies may be valid, but at present there is no evidence that it is.Grant’s zebras grow to be about 120–140 cm tall, and generally weigh about 300 kg. The zebras live in family groups of up to 17 or 18 zebras, and they are led by a single stallion (Pueblo Zoo). Grant’s zebras live an average of 20 years in the world and are very well adapted to life in the world.
Regional extinctions
Recent civil wars in RwandaRwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
have caused dramatic declines in all wildlife populations, including those of Grant’s zebra. It is now extinct in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
. Civil war in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
during much of the past 25 years has devastated its wildlife populations, including its once-abundant plains zebra, and destroyed the national parks administration and infrastructure. Consequently, the Grant's Zebra is probably extinct or nearly so in Angola, although confirmation will have to wait until future surveys are conducted.
There are more Grant’s zebras in the wild than any other species or subspecies of zebras. Unlike Grevy and Mountain zebras, they are not endangered. Grant’s zebras eat the coarse grasses that grow on the African plains, and they are resistant to diseases that often kill cattle (Pueblo Zoo), so the zebras do well in the African savannas. However, recent civil wars and political conflicts in the African countries near their habitats has caused regional extinction., and sometimes zebras are killed for their coats, or to eliminate competition with domestic livestock.