A zebra is a wild, horse-like mammal native to Africa, easily recognized by its distinctive black-and-white striped coat. It belongs to the same family as horses and donkeys and typically lives in grasslands, savannas, and some mountainous regions. Zebras are herbivores that primarily graze on grasses, and they have sturdy bodies, upright manes, and tufted tails. Each zebra’s stripe pattern is unique, much like a human fingerprint, and these stripes may help with camouflage, temperature regulation, or confusing predators.
Zebras are social animals that live in groups called herds and communicate through sounds, facial expressions, and body movements. They are fast and alert, capable of running up to about 40 miles per hour to escape predators such as lions. There are three main species of zebra—the plains zebra, the mountain zebra, and the Grévy’s zebra—each with slightly different sizes and stripe patterns.