Zebra looks beautiful. We call it zebra. So why do zebras have black and white stripes? Here is why the zebra I integrated has black and white stripes. Let's have a look. It must be helpful to you.
Why do zebras have black and white stripes
Zebra stripes are actually a protective color to adapt to the environment. In the photo of sunshine or moonlight, the black and white color of the zebra absorbs and reflects different light, which can destroy and disperse the outline of its body shape. It is difficult to distinguish it from the surrounding environment from a distance. If it stands still, it is difficult to find it even if it is very close. This can reduce the chance of being attacked by beasts. This protective color is the result of long-term natural selection. Those zebras with no obvious stripes are gradually eaten by beasts. The zebras with obvious stripes are preserved and inherited from generation to generation. They have become such zebras with clear stripes. The width of zebra stripes is related to the species, and beautiful stripes can also be a sign of acquaintance between the same species.
Living habits of zebras
colony
Zebras are highly social and social animals. They hunt together (mainly grass) and even comb their fur with each other. Zebras inhabit in groups, and even elderly individuals will not be expelled from the group and live alone. However, the group is usually small, about 10 at most. It is mostly composed of female animals and male and female cubs who have not reached sexual maturity. The group is very compact but not loose. The cubs like to play, tear, or play with the female animals. Adult males usually live alone and occupy a territory of about 10 square kilometers. The excreted feces are used as the mark of the territory boundary. Only in the rainy season, when waiting for the female to come, can they live together for a period of husband and wife life, and then the female will return to the group.
Cry
In the habitat, the group always migrates along a relatively fixed route. Although it looks extraordinary, its cry is very ugly, just like the neighing of "calling a donkey". Its vision is very good. Like other horses, its eyes can see things far away and things near at the same time; Hearing is also very sharp. When eating, we are also vigilantly pricking up our ears to prevent sudden attacks. When looking for food, members of the group take turns to take charge of the warning task. When there is a danger, they will send out a long hissing warning signal. The group immediately stops eating and runs away quickly. Its running speed is fast and lasting, up to 60-80 kilometers per hour, which is unmatched by lions, leopards and other beasts, so it can often escape the pursuit of predators.
Feeding habits
Zebras are herbivores. In addition to grass, shrubs, branches, leaves and even bark are also their food. The digestive system with strong adaptability enables zebras to survive under low nutritional conditions, which is superior to other herbivores. The main food is grass, and sometimes eat tender leaves. Not only are members of the group very friendly, but also they often live together with ostriches, giraffes, antelopes and other herbivores, share the same food, and use each other and exchange information to avoid strong enemies.
natural enemy
Their natural enemies, such as lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas, can only prey by ambush. They often set an ambush on the way they have to drink water and wait patiently. When they are close, they suddenly rush out, aiming at the sick and weak individuals or inexperienced cubs in the group running around because of fear, and have a good meal after falling down.
Habitat
They live in dry, open grasslands and desert areas with more shrubs. Mountain zebras like to move in mountainous and undulating mountain areas; Ordinary zebras inhabit the plains and grasslands; Zebra zebra lives in hot, dry semi desert areas, and occasionally in the plains with withered weeds.
Breeding and feeding of zebra
Zebras are highly social animals. Different types have different social composition. Plain zebra and mountain zebra have a "family" structure. Each "family" also has one male zebra, up to six female zebras and their children. While males have the ability to "mate" with other zebras, they will live alone with other zebras. When the zebra herd is attacked by hyenas or wild dogs, the adult zebra will form a circle and put the juvenile zebra in the circle, and its leader will protect his wife and children.
Zebra zebra is different from other zebras. They have no fixed social relationship. Zebras with fine stripes rarely live together for a long time. Adult male zebras live alone, while juvenile zebras live with their mothers. Like plain zebra and mountain zebra, unmarried and mated male zebra will live with other males, but the relationship is not very fixed.
During the breeding season, zebras are very nervous and active. Male animals will fight with each other impolitely. The way of fighting is to hit each other on the neck, bite with mouth, kick with the hoof of the front foot, etc. The loser fled in confusion, while the winner lived with the female for a period of time, through intimacy, play and other behaviors, and then mated. Each winning male will mate several females each year. The pregnancy period of female animals is about 11-13 months, and they give birth every 3 years. One litter per fetus. Soon after the baby is born, it can stand and walk. The lactation period is about 6 months and sexual maturity is 3.5-4 years old. The service life is about 20-30 years.