The Mountain Zebra is an endangered species of equid native to south-western Angola, Namibia and South Africa. It has two subspecies, the Cape Mountain Zebra and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra,
though it has been suggested these should be considered separate
species. Like all zebras, it is boldly striped in black and white and no
two individuals look exactly alike. The stripe can be black and white
or dark brown and white. Their stripes cover their whole bodies except
for their bellies. The Mountain zebra also has a dewlap.
As its name suggests, the Mountain Zebra
lives in higher places than other zebras. Its numbers are decreasing
because of hunting for its skin and meat, and also because of droughts.
Mountain Zebras are found on mountain slopes, open grasslands, woodlands
and areas with sufficient vegetation. Some Mountain Zebras live in the rainforest.
Mountain zebras live in hot, dry, rocky, mountainous and hilly
habitats. They prefer slopes and plateaus and can be found as high as
1,000 metres above sea level, although they do migrate lower in the
winter season.
Mountain zebra are most
active in the early morning and late afternoon. They spend up to half of
the daylight hours feeding. Mountain zebra live in herds consisting of
one adult male (stallion), one to five adult females (mares) and their
young. The stallion is the dominant member of the herd. Sometimes herds
come together to form temporary groups of up to 30 individuals. Mountain
zebra never form the large herds characteristic of Plains zebra,
however, they do exhibit a harem-type social system.
The Mountain zebras form small
family groups consisting of a single stallion, one, two, or several
mares, and their recent offspring. Bachelor males live in separate
groups and attempt to abduct young mares and are opposed by the
stallion. Mountain zebra groups do not aggregate into large herds like
Plains zebras. Mares may give birth to one foal every twelve months.
Like other equids, zebra foals are able to stand, walk and suckle
shortly after they are born. Source
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