Zebra Facts for Kids

25 Zebra Facts For Kids

1. Zebra is the common name for a few African equines species who are members of the Equus genus.
2. You can identify a zebra by their horse-like bodies and black-and-white stripped fur coat.
3. Zebras are one of the most popular and recognizable African mammals.
4. Paleontologists believe zebras and their ancestors first started to appear around 2 million years ago.
5. Zebras are native to the African continent with current populations located in eastern and southern Africa.
6. Zebras have adapted to several different habitats, including grasslands, mountainous areas, savannahs, shrublands, and woodlands.
7. There are an estimated 500,000 to 750,000 zebras living in Africa today.
8. Zebras are grazing herbivores and only eat only plant material.
9. The diet of a zebra is typically grasses and sedges, but can also include bark, fruit, leaves, and roots.
10. There are three living species of zebras in eastern and southern Africa.
11. The three living species of zebras are the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), the mountain zebra (Equus zebra), and the plains zebra (Equus quagga).
12. The mountain zebra and plains zebra are social animals and live in groups known as harems.
13. The Grevy’s zebra is solitary and only get together for breeding or when raising young.
14. Zebras are known for several vocalizations, including their barks that sound like “a-ha, a-ha, a-ha”.
15. The bodyweight range of all zebra species is between 385 and 990 pounds.
16. The head-to-body length range of all zebra species is between 6 and 9 feet.
17. The wither height range for all zebra species is between 4.17 and 5.2 feet.
18. The tail length range of all zebra species is between 16 and 30 inches.
19. The largest zebra species is the Grevy’s zebra with a maximum weight of 990 pounds.
20. The smallest zebra species is the plains zebra with a maximum weight of 386 pounds.
21. The average lifespan for a zebra is 25 years, but they can live much longer when kept in captivity.
22. The average running speed for zebra is between 30 and 40 miles per hour.
23. The stripes on a zebra can serve one or more functions. Some research believe it helps camouflage them from predators or create confusion when it large groups.
24. A male zebra is referred to as a stallion, a female zebra is referred to as a mare, and juvenile zebras of all genders are referred to as foals.
25. Zebras are a popular zoo attraction and hundreds of zebra exhibits are at zoos around the world.

Zebra Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on zebras. Below are three pictures of various zebras. These pictures should help you better understand the different types of zebras found around the world.

A picture of Grevy's zebra (equus grevyi).

A picture of plains zebra (equus quagga).

A picture of mountain zebra (equus zebra).