The mountain zebra, Equus zebra, is a striped member of the horse family that lives on slopes and plateaus in the mountains of southwestern Africa. It has two subspecies: the Cape mountain zebra, found only in South Africa, and Hartmann's mountain zebra, which ranges from Namibia into the extreme southwest of Angola. Adults weigh roughly 240 to 372 kilograms. Mountain zebras are grazers that eat mainly grass but also browse, and they are active mostly in the early morning and from late afternoon to sunset. They are social animals, living in breeding herds and bachelor groups with clear dominance hierarchies. The Cape subspecies was hunted for its hide and for competing with livestock, and the species is considered vulnerable. Mountain zebras bring in money from ecotourism, and national parks and other reserves protect them.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 ThreatsInvasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes and Diseases 1 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleEcotourism and Research 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Equidae, Taxa Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)
Equus, Taxa Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)
In Biome
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)
Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)
In Ecosystem
Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)Geographic Range, where it livesQuote, Geographic Range, where it lives
into extreme southwest Angola.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)HabitatQuote, Habitat
Mountain zebras inhabit slopes and plateaus in mountainous areas of South Africa and Namibia (South West Africa).
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)Geographic RangeQuote, Geographic Range
Cape mountain zebras are found only in South Africa.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web: Equus zebra (Mountain zebra)
Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List indicates that the entire species E. zebra is vulnerable (1994).
Food Habits
Both subspecies of mountain zebra are herbivorous.
Habitat
Mountain zebras inhabit slopes and plateaus in mountainous areas of South Africa and Namibia (South West Africa).
Geographic Range
Cape mountain zebras are found only in South Africa.
Conservation Status, Hartmann's mountain zebra counts
During the 1950s, numbers of E. z. hartmannae were estimated at 50,000 to 75,000 individuals. In 1992 they were estimated at only about 8,000.
Conservation Status, major threats, harvesting
The major threats to E. zebra include habitat loss and degradation, invasive alien species, harvesting, persecution, and intrinsic factors such as a restricted range.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive, skins
Mountain zebras bring in money from ecotourism, and some are still harvested for their skins.
Conservation Status, Cape subspecies
It is also listed as endangered by CITES and is placed on Appendix I.
Conservation Status, Hartmann's subspecies
is listed on Appendix II by CITES.
Physical Description, range mass
Range mass 240 to 372 kg
Behavior
Both subspecies of mountain zebra are predominately diurnal, and are active in the early morning and late afternoon to sunset.
Lifespan/Longevity, average lifespan in the wild
Average lifespan Status: wild 20 years
Geographic Range, where it lives
into extreme southwest Angola.
Child Taxon Of: Equidae, Scientific Classification
Family Equidae asses, horses, and zebras
Child Taxon Of: Equus, Scientific Classification
Genus Equus asses, horses, and zebras
In Group: Odd-Toed Ungulates (Perissodactyla), Scientific Classification
Order Perissodactyla horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs
View the Source2. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Equus zebra
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 33.2 years (captivity)
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.