Grevy's Zebra
Equus grevyi
The largest wild equid, with fine dense stripes, a white belly and big rounded ears.
| Scientific name | Equus grevyi |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Punda Milia wa Grevy |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Perissodactyla |
| Family | Equidae |
| Size | Shoulder height about 1.4-1.6 m, weight about 350-450 kg; the largest of the zebras |
How to identify
Narrower, denser stripes that stop short of the belly, leaving it pure white; large rounded ears; a grey muzzle and narrow gaps between stripes
Habitat
Semi-arid grassland, bushed grassland and acacia plains
Diet
Mainly a grazer of grasses but also browses; tolerates coarser, drier grass better than other zebras
When it is active
Diurnal, most active at dawn and dusk, resting in shade during the midday heat
Where it lives
Restricted to the arid regions of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia
How to spot it
Look in arid reserves such as Samburu and Laikipia; note the pure white belly and large rounded ears to separate it from the plains zebra
Photography tips
Use a telephoto to capture the fine stripe pattern; side or backlight rims the mane and big ears; gatherings often form at waterholes
Threats
Habitat loss, competition with livestock for water and grazing, and poaching; one of the most endangered zebras
Similar species
Plains zebra (broader stripes that wrap under the belly, smaller ears, and shadow stripes on the rump)
