5 Fun Facts About Zebras
1. No two zebras look the same.
Their stripes are all different, and can be used for identification almost like a persons fingerprints. Their stripes are useful too, when the herd is standing close to one another the combined stripes confuse predators and make it hard for them pick out one of the zebras to chase. Scientists also think that the stripes may help cool the zebras down. Their theory is that air moves faster over their black stripes and slows down over their white stripes, that would create a convection current around the zebra, and would cool it down.
2. They have really good eyesight.
In fact, we think that their eyesight in the dark is almost as good as that of an owl. This trait comes in handy for them because even at night their predators are lurking. Herds will actually set one zebra as a watchman to guard them when they sleep.
3. Not all zebras travel in herds.
Grevy's zebra stallions wander alone and establish territories, females come into their territories to mate but leave as soon as the foals are big enough. Grevy's zebras are the biggest type of zebra, and the most mule-like in appearance. Ironically they also have the smallest stripes. Grevy's zebras are the rarest of all the zebra types, and are endangered.
4. Their babies are really cute.
When they are born they are brown and all legs. They're quick learners as well, they can walk just 20 minutes after they born. They also have to learn their mother's specific stripes in order to be able to follow her and not be confused by the other zebra's stripes.
5. They communicate their mood with their ears.
When it's happy and friendly its ears are erect, although this can sometimes also signal that they're tense. When they're frightened their ears go forward. They pull their ears back when they're angry, predators beware.
Their stripes are all different, and can be used for identification almost like a persons fingerprints. Their stripes are useful too, when the herd is standing close to one another the combined stripes confuse predators and make it hard for them pick out one of the zebras to chase. Scientists also think that the stripes may help cool the zebras down. Their theory is that air moves faster over their black stripes and slows down over their white stripes, that would create a convection current around the zebra, and would cool it down.
2. They have really good eyesight.
In fact, we think that their eyesight in the dark is almost as good as that of an owl. This trait comes in handy for them because even at night their predators are lurking. Herds will actually set one zebra as a watchman to guard them when they sleep.
3. Not all zebras travel in herds.
Grevy's zebra stallions wander alone and establish territories, females come into their territories to mate but leave as soon as the foals are big enough. Grevy's zebras are the biggest type of zebra, and the most mule-like in appearance. Ironically they also have the smallest stripes. Grevy's zebras are the rarest of all the zebra types, and are endangered.
4. Their babies are really cute.
When they are born they are brown and all legs. They're quick learners as well, they can walk just 20 minutes after they born. They also have to learn their mother's specific stripes in order to be able to follow her and not be confused by the other zebra's stripes.
5. They communicate their mood with their ears.
When it's happy and friendly its ears are erect, although this can sometimes also signal that they're tense. When they're frightened their ears go forward. They pull their ears back when they're angry, predators beware.
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