in the puzzle is an animal called the "horse in a sailor suit."Answer know even the smallest children, who once visited the zoo is home to a zebra.She looks pretty friendly, but do not try to pet her: I like her pretty wild and teeth strong.Obviously, the zoo - it is not the natural habitat of this interesting animal.How and where lives a zebra?The more it eats?What are the different features?Read the answers to these and other questions.
Sunny tigrokon
One historian Cassius Dio, in his famous "Roman history" mentioned the following: Septimius Severus, at the time the emperor of Rome, ordered to catch some sun circus horses, which are covered with stripes, like tigers.In the annals of history also stated that later the son of Septimius struck one of the horses during the battles in the arena.Unknown animals called "gippotigr."
Today it is clear that in the tiger mean.The prefix "Hippo" means "horse."The Romans are well noticed similarities: Zebra really belongs to the family horse.However, on closer examination, it is more like a donkey - long ears, sticking out stiff mane massive legs.Where lives zebra, harsh climate and a lot of predators, so these features help it to survive: the length of the ear indicates a sensitive hearing, mane will not interfere with the running and sturdy legs quickly overcome kilometers.
Habitat
The area, where there are zebras, quite wide and depends on a particular type of animal.There are deserts, mountains and plains zebra.The first live in the dry savannas (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya), the second can be found in Namibia and South Africa.They prefer savanna plains of Sudan, Ethiopia and East Africa.
Soil savannah is poor in nutrients, so the main vegetation - stunted trees, shrubs and grass that make up the diet of animals.In the rainy season the land dries up, so striped horse must constantly be near the watering.During the day, they can travel long distances, up to 50 km, but always returned to his native place.If you are not near water would be, zebra hooves dig pit-pit.Determine the exact location makes it a subtle sense of smell.
fun together
No matter where he lives zebra and what species belongs to it - a herd animal.The group has about 10-15 animals in large herds, they get off before a long journey.At the head of the male, the other - a female and young.The composition of the permanent, know each other can be a drawing.Responsibilities clearly assigned in the group.Thus, the animals go to drink in a specific order: first, the most experienced female, then by seniority foals.At the end of the male walks.There are "guards": when the herd sleeps, two zebras stay on his feet in time to warn of the threat.Newborn baby is very distinct: almost immediately after birth start walking.But the firm knows that to lose sight of my mother safe.
Zebras "friends" with giraffes, ostriches, gazelles.However, it is easier to resist the predator, in addition, giraffes may notice the enemy from afar.
Black or white?
Black and white striped color - the most striking feature of the animal.Interesting fact: zebra stripes for human fingerprints: find two exactly the same pattern will not turn out.
Due to the unusual coloring in the academic world in the late XIX century, there was even a controversy: some believed that zebra black and covered with white stripes, while others stated that the animal bright black stripes.Reasonable opinions expressed on this occasion, Walter Johnson, British naturalist.He suggested, as the ancient ancestor of zebra - the horse, and all the old horses were dark color (white spots appeared, and stretched in the course of evolution), and it should be considered black zebra with white stripes.Later, this idea has not cited a single author.
What are the bands?The answer will tell subekvatora area, where he lives a zebra - the savanna.There is almost no bushes and trees, and it is very difficult to hide.In such circumstances, zebra color - an excellent camouflage.They can easily merge with a long striped grass.Insects (eg tsetse fly) respond well to a solid color, but do not notice the nonuniform.Zebra in a herd of merging into one huge black-and-white spot, it is able to disorient predators.
on the verge of extinction
Unfortunately, the beautiful color of the animal became fatal for him.Amazing view - quagga - was destroyed in the late XIX century.Rugged Hide these equines made their main goal hunters.
rapidly shrinking number of Grevy's zebras.Their unusual skins adorn the home, the amount of watering is reduced pastures grow, while the Grevy prefers to eat tough grass.Effective measures to conserve species take animal welfare advocates in Kenya carry them out of the arid areas in the national parks and reserves.Places where zebras live today: Amboseli Park in Kenya, Chester Zoo (England) Reserve Saysambu (Nakuru).The International Red Book Grevy placed into the category of endangered, but there is hope that the amazing views remain.
