Grévy's zebra

Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest living wild equid and the most threatened of the three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Named after Jules Grévy, it is found in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia. Superficially, Grévy's zebras' physical features can help to identify it from the other zebra species; their overall appearance is slightly closer to that of a mule, compared to the more "equine" (horse) appearance of the plains and mountain zebras. Compared to other zebra species, Grévy's are the tallest; they have mule-like, larger ears, and have the tightest stripes of all zebras. They have distinctively erect manes, and more slender snouts.

Grévy's zebra^[1] Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene – Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ ^[2]
A Grévy's zebra at Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)^[3]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)^[4]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Equidae
Genus:	Equus
Subgenus:	Hippotigris
Species:	E. grevyi
Binomial name
Equus grevyi Oustalet, 1882^[5]
Grévy's zebra range   native   introduced

The Grévy's zebra live in semi-arid savanna, where they feed on grasses, legumes, and browse, such as acacia; they can survive up to five days without water. They differ from the other zebra species in that they do not live in a harem, and they maintain few long-lasting social bonds. Stallion territoriality and mother–foal relationships form the basis of the social system of the Grévy's zebra. Despite a handful of zoos and animal parks around the world having had successful captive-breeding programs, in its native home this zebra is listed by the IUCN as endangered. Its population has declined from 15,000 to 2,000 since the 1970s. In 2016, the population was reported to be "stable"; however, as of 2020, the wild numbers are still estimated at only around 2,250 animals, in part due to anthrax outbreaks in eastern Africa.^[6]

Taxonomy and naming

The Grévy's zebra was first described by French naturalist Émile Oustalet in 1882. He named it after Jules Grévy, then president of France, who, in the 1880s, was given one by the government of Abyssinia. Traditionally, this species was classified in the subgenus Dolichohippus with plains zebra and mountain zebra in Hippotigris.^[7] Groves and Bell (2004) place all three species in the subgenus Hippotigris.^[8]

Fossils of zebra-like equids have been found throughout Africa and Asia in the Pliocene and Pleistocene deposits.^[7] Notable examples include E. sanmeniensis from China, E. cautleyi from India, E. valeriani from central Asia and E. oldowayensis from East Africa.^[7] The latter, in particular is very similar to the Grévy's zebra and may have been its ancestor.^[7] The modern Grévy's zebra arose in the Middle Pleistocene.^[9] Zebras appear to be a monophyletic lineage^[10][11][12] and recent (2013) phylogenies have placed Grévy's zebra in a sister taxon with the plains zebra.^[10] In areas where Grévy's zebras are sympatric with plains zebras, the two may gather in same herds^[13] and fertile hybrids do occur.^[14]

Description

 

From left to right: a cranium, a complete skeleton, a left forefoot frontal, and a left forefoot lateral from a Grévy's zebra.

The Grévy's zebra is the largest of all wild equines. It is 2.5–2.75 m (8.2–9.0 ft) in head-body with a 55–75 cm (22–30 in) tail, and stands 1.45–1.6 m (4.8–5.2 ft) high at the withers. These zebras weigh 350–450 kg (770–990 lb).^[15] Grévy's zebra differs from the other two zebras in its more primitive characteristics.^[16]: 147 It is particularly mule-like in appearance; the head is large, long, and narrow with elongated nostril openings;^[16]: 147 the ears are very large, rounded, and conical and the neck is short but thick.^[17] The zebra's muzzle is ash-grey to black in colour with the lips having whiskers. The mane is tall and erect; juveniles have a mane that extends to the length of the back and shortens as they reach adulthood.^[17]

As with all zebra species, the Grévy's zebra's pelage has a black and white striping pattern. The stripes are narrow and close-set, being broader on the neck, and they extend to the hooves.^[17] The belly and the area around the base of the tail lack stripes and are just white in color, which is unique to the Grévy's zebra. Foals are born with brown and white striping, with the brown stripes darkening as they grow older.^[17]

Range and ecology

 

Zebra in dense brush

The Grévy's zebra largely inhabits northern Kenya, with some isolated populations in Ethiopia.^{[16]: 147 [17]} It was extirpated from Somalia and Djibouti and its status in South Sudan is uncertain.^[3] It lives in Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and barren plains.^[13] Ecologically, this species is intermediate between the arid-living African wild ass and the water-dependent plains zebra.^{[13][16]: 147} Lactating mares and non-territorial stallions use areas with green, short grass and medium, dense bush more often than non-lactating mares and territorial stallions.^[18]

Grévy's zebras rely on grasses, legumes, and browse for nutrition.^[17] They commonly browse when grasses are not plentiful.^[13][19] Their hindgut fermentation digestive system allows them to subsist on diets of lower nutritional quality than that necessary for ruminant herbivores. Grevy's zebras can survive up to a week without water, but will drink daily when it is plentiful.^[20] They often migrate to better watered highlands during the dry season.^[13] Mares require significantly more water when they are lactating.^[21] During droughts, the zebras will dig water holes and defend them.^[13] The Grévy's zebra's main predator is the lion, but adults can be hunted by spotted hyenas. African hunting dogs, cheetahs and leopards almost never attack adults, even in desperate times, but sometimes prey on young animals, although mares are fiercely protective of their young.^[17] In addition, they are susceptible to various gastro-intestinal parasites, notably of the genus Trichostrongylus.^[22]

Behaviour and life history

 

Herd of zebras

Adult stallions mostly live in territories during the wet seasons but some may stay in them year round if there's enough water left.^[13] Stallions that are unable to establish territories are free-ranging^[16]: 151 and are known as bachelors. Mares, young and non-territorial stallions wander through large home ranges. The mares will wander from territory to territory preferring the ones with the highest-quality food and water sources.^[23] Up to nine stallions may compete for a mare outside of a territory.^[17] Territorial stallions will tolerate other stallions who wander in their territory. However, when an oestrous mare is present the territorial stallion keeps other stallions at bay.^{[13][16]: 151} Non-territorial stallions might avoid territorial ones because of harassment.^[18] When mares are not around, a territorial stallion will seek the company of other stallions. The stallion shows his dominance with an arched neck and a high-stepping gait and the least dominant stallions submit by extending their tail, lowering their heads and nuzzling their superior's chest or groin.^[16]: 151

Zebras produce numerous sounds and vocalisations. When alarmed, they produce deep, hoarse grunts. Whistles and squeals are also made when alarmed, during fights, when scared or in pain. Snorts may be produced when scared or as a warning. A stallion will bray in defense of his territory, when driving mares, or keeping other stallions at bay. Barks may be made during copulation and distressed foals will squeal.^[17] The call of the Grévy's zebra has been described as "something like a hippo's grunt combined with a donkey's wheeze".^[13] To get rid of flies or parasites, they roll in dust, water or mud or, in the case of flies, they twitch their skin. They also rub against trees, rocks and other objects to get rid of irritations such as itchy skin, hair or parasites.^[17] Although Grévy's zebras do not perform mutual grooming, they do sometimes rub against a conspecific.^[17]

Reproduction

 

Zebra foal resting

Grévy's zebras can mate and give birth year round, but most mating takes place in the early rainy seasons and births mostly take place in August or September after the long rains.^[17] An oestrous mare may visit as many as four territories a day^[23] and will mate with the stallions in them. Among territorial stallions, the most dominant ones control territories near water sources, which mostly attract mares with dependant foals,^[24] while more subordinate stallions control territories away from water with greater amounts of vegetation, which mostly attract mares without dependant foals.^[24]

 

Zebra mare near younger zebras

The resident stallions of territories will try to subdue the entering mares with dominance rituals and then continue with courtship and copulation.^[13] Grévy's zebra stallions have large testicles and can ejaculate a large amount of semen to replace the sperm of other males.^[23] This is a useful adaptation for a species whose mares mate polyandrously. Bachelors or outside territorial stallions sometimes "sneak" copulation of mares in another stallion's territory.^[23] While mare associations with individual stallions are brief and mating is promiscuous, mares who have just given birth will reside with one stallion for long periods and mate exclusively with that stallion.^[23] Lactating females are harassed by stallions more often than non-lactating ones and thus associating with one male and his territory provides an advantage as he will guard against other males.^[25]

Gestation of the Grévy's zebra normally lasts 390 days,^[17] with a single foal being born. A new-born zebra will follow anything that moves, so new mothers prevent other mares from approaching their foals while imprinting their own striping pattern, scent and vocalisation on them.^[17] Mares with young foals may gather into small groups.^[21] Mares may leave their foals in "kindergartens" while searching for water.^[21] The foals will not hide, so they can be vulnerable to predators.^[13] However, kindergartens tend to be protected by an adult, usually a territorial stallion.^[21] A mare with a foal stays with one dominant territorial stallion who has exclusive mating rights to her. While the foal may not be his, the stallion will look after it to ensure that the mare stays in his territory.^[26] To adapt to a semi-arid environment, Grévy's zebra foals have longer nursing intervals and wait until they are three months old before they start drinking water.^[21] Although offspring become less dependent on their mothers after half a year, associations with them continue for up to three years.^[13]

Relationship with humans

 

An engraving of the zebra given to Jules Grévy and kept at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes in 1882

The Grévy's zebra was known to the Europeans in antiquity and was used by the Romans in circuses.^[7] It was subsequently forgotten in the Western world for a thousand years.^[7] In the seventeenth century, the king of Shoa (now central Ethiopia) exported two zebras; one to the Sultan of Turkey and another to the Dutch governor of Jakarta.^[7] A century later, in 1882, the government of Abyssinia sent one to French president Jules Grévy. It was at that time that the animal was recognised as its own species and named in Grévy's honour.^[7] Grévy's zebra appears on the Eritrean 25-cent coin.^[27]

Status and conservation

 

Grevy's zebras in Samburu National Reserve

The Grévy's zebra is considered endangered.^[3] Its population was estimated to be 15,000 in the 1970s and by the early 21st century the population was lower than 3,500, a 75% decline.^[28]: 11 In 2008 it was estimated that there are less than 2,500 Grévy's zebras still living in the wild, further declining to fewer than 2,000 mature individuals in 2016. Nonetheless, the Grévy's zebra population trend was considered stable as of 2016.^[3]

There are also an estimated 600 Grévy's zebras in captivity.^[28]: 20 Captive herds have been known to thrive, like at White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida, United States, where more than 70 foals have been born. There, research is underway in partnership with the Conservation Centers for Species Survival on semen collection and freezing and on artificial insemination.^[29]

The Grévy's zebra is legally protected in Ethiopia. In Kenya, it is protected by the hunting ban of 1977. In the past, Grévy's zebras were threatened mainly by hunting for their skins which fetched a high price on the world market. However, hunting has declined and the main threat to the zebra is habitat loss and competition with livestock. Cattle gather around watering holes and the Grévy's zebras are fenced from those areas.^[28]: 17 Community-based conservation efforts have shown to be the most effective in preserving Grévy's zebras and their habitat. Less than 0.5% of the range of the Grévy's zebra is in protected areas. In Ethiopia, the protected areas include Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve, Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary, Borana National Park, and Chelbi Sanctuary. In Kenya, important protected areas include the Buffalo Springs, Samburu and Shaba National Reserves and the private and community land wildlife conservancies in Isiolo, Samburu and the Laikipia Plateau.^[3]

The mesquite plant was introduced into Ethiopia around 1997 and is endangering the zebra's food supply. An invasive species, it is replacing the two grass species, Cenchrus ciliaris and Chrysopogon plumulosus, which the zebras eat for most of their food.^[30][31]

References

1. Grubb, P. (2005). "Order Perissodactyla". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 631–632. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. O'Brien, Kaedan; Tryon, Christian A.; Blegen, Nick; Kimeu, Boniface; Rowan, John; Faith, J. Tyler (15 March 2021). "First appearance of Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), from the Middle Pleistocene Kapthurin Formation, Kenya, sheds light on the evolution and paleoecology of large zebras". Quaternary Science Reviews. 256: 106835. Bibcode:2021QSRv..25606835O. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106835. S2CID 233638447.
3. Rubenstein, D.; Low Mackey, B.; Davidson, Z.D.; Kebede, F.; King, S.R.B. (2016). "Equus grevyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T7950A89624491. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T7950A89624491.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is endangered.
4. "Appendices". CITES. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
5. Oustalet, E. (1882). "Une nouvelle espèce de Zèbre. Le Zèbre de Grévy (Equus revyi)". La Nature. 10 (470): 12–14.
6. "Six endangered Grevy's Zebra foals make their debut at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park". San Diego Zoo Global. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
7. Prothero D.R.; Schoch R. M. (2003). Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals'. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 216–18. ISBN 978-0-801-87135-1.
8. Groves, C. P.; Bell, C. H. (2004). "New investigations on the taxonomy of the zebras genus Equus, subgenus Hippotigris". Mammalian Biology. 69 (3): 182–196. doi:10.1078/1616-5047-00133.
9. O'Brien, Kaedan; Tryon, Christian A.; Blegen, Nick; Kimeu, Boniface; Rowan, John; Faith, J. Tyler (15 March 2021). "First appearance of Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), from the Middle Pleistocene Kapthurin Formation, Kenya, sheds light on the evolution and paleoecology of large zebras". Quaternary Science Reviews. 256: 106835. Bibcode:2021QSRv..25606835O. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106835. S2CID 233638447.
10. Vilstrup, Julia T.; et al. (2013). "Mitochondrial Phylogenomics of Modern and Ancient Equids". PLOS ONE. 8 (2): e55950. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...855950V. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055950. PMC 3577844. PMID 23437078.
11. Forstén, Ann (1992). "Mitochondrial‐DNA timetable and the evolution of Equus: of molecular and paleontological evidence" (PDF). Annales Zoologici Fennici. 28: 301–309.
12. Ryder, O. A.; George, M. (1986). "Mitochondrial DNA evolution in the genus Equus". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 3 (6): 535–546. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040414. PMID 2832696.
13. Estes, R. (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. University of California Press. pp. 240–242. ISBN 978-0-520-08085-0.
14. J. E. Cordingley; S. R. Sundaresan; I. R. Fischhoff; B. Shapiro; J. Ruskey; D. I. Rubenstein (2009). "Is the endangered Grevy's zebra threatened by hybridization?" (PDF). Animal Conservation. 12 (6): 505–13. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00294.x. S2CID 18388598.
15. Huffman, B. "Grevy's zebra". Ultimate Ungulate.
16. Kingdon, J. (1988). East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa, Volume 3, Part B: Large Mammals. University of Chicago Press. pp. 147–61. ISBN 9780226437224.
17. Churcher C.S. (1993). "Equus grevyi" (PDF). Mammalian Species (453): 1–9. doi:10.2307/3504222. JSTOR 3504222.
18. Sundaresan, Siva R.; Fischhoff, Ilya R.; Hartung, Helen M.; Akilong, Patrick; Rubenstein, Daniel I. (2008). "Habitat choice of Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyi) in Laikipia, Kenya". African Journal of Ecology. 46 (3): 359–364. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.584.7037. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00848.x. S2CID 12625704.
19. Bauer, I. E.; McMorrow, J.; Yalden, D. W. (1994). "The historic ranges of three equid species in North-East Africa: a quantitative comparison of environmental tolerances". Journal of Biogeography. 21 (2): 169–182. doi:10.2307/2845470. JSTOR 2845470.
20. Youth, H. (2004). . Zoogoer. 33 (November/December 2004). Archived from the original on 26 October 2005.
21. Becker, C. D.; Ginsberg, J. R. (1990). "Mother-infant behaviour of wild Grevy's zebra". Animal Behaviour. 40 (6): 1111–1118. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80177-0. S2CID 54252836.
22. Muoria. P. K.; Muruthi. P.; Rubenstein. D.; Oguge N. O.; Munene E. (2005). "Cross-sectional survey of gastro-intestinal parasites of Grevy's zebras in southern Samburu, Kenya" (PDF). African Journal of Ecology. 43 (4): 392–95. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2005.00588.x.
23. Ginsberg, J.R.; Rubenstein, D.I. (1990). "Sperm competition and variation in zebra mating behavior". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 26 (6): 427–34. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.512.1394. doi:10.1007/BF00170901. S2CID 206771095.
24. Rubenstein, D. I. (2010) "Ecology, social behavior, and conservation in zebras". pp. 231–58. In: Advances in the Study Behavior: Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Animals, Vol. 42. R. Macedo, ed. Elsevier Press. ISBN 0123808944
25. Sundaresan, S. R.; Fischhoff, I. R.; Rubenstein, D. (2007). "Male harassment influences female movements and associations in Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi)" (PDF). Behavioral Ecology. 18 (5): 860–65. doi:10.1093/beheco/arm055.
26. Rubenstein, D.I. (1986). "Ecology and sociality in horses and zebras" (PDF). In D. I. Rubenstein; R. W. Wrangham (eds.). Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution. Princeton University Press. pp. 282–302. ISBN 978-0691084398. JSTOR j.ctt7zvwgq.
27. "25 Cents, Eritrea". en.numista.com.
28. Moelman, P.D. (2002). "Status and Action Plan for the Grévy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) by Stuart D. Williams". Equids. Zebras, Asses and Horses. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan'. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. pp. 11–27. ISBN 978-2-831-70647-4.
29. "Grevy's Zebra". Retrieved 21 June 2013.
30. Platt, John R. "Devil Tree Threatens the World's Rarest Zebras". Retrieved 7 August 2015.
31. Kebede, Almaz T.; Layne Coppock, D. (September 2015). "Livestock-Mediated Dispersal of Prosopis juliflora Imperils Grasslands and the Endangered Grévy's Zebra in Northeastern Ethiopia". Rangeland Ecology & Management. 68 (5): 402–407. doi:10.1016/j.rama.2015.07.002. S2CID 83558974.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grévy's zebra.

• "Wildlife Grévy's Zebra" – summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• from ARKive.org
• "To Catch a Zebra" 14 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine by Brian Jackman – story of catching endangered Grévy's zebra for relocation
• – Rich Blundell reports from Kenya
• Grevy's Zebra Trust – a Kenyan organization dedicated to preserving the Grévy's zebra