Burchell's zebras
Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli) is a horse-like herbivore which was named after the well-known traveller and naturalist, W.J. Burchell. They inhabit savannah, from treeless grasslands to open woodlands. Zebras stay in family groups of a stallion, or male, and several mares, but different families will come together in huge herds of hundreds of zebras. They are distinguished from Hartmann's mountain zebra by: The yellowish or greyish shadow stripes between the black on the hind quarters; The lack of 'gridiron' pattern on the top of the hind quarters; The absence of dewlap (the loose fold of skin hanging under the throat). Each zebra has an individual stripe pattern and with no two being alike. Herds will mingle with wildebeests, ostriches, and antelope while they graze, and even come to depend on them as additional protection against predators! The herd runs away at the pace of the slowest animal, followed by the herd stallion right at the back. Backwards kicking zebras can kill a lion.
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