Do You Know Your Zebras? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Horses

Okay a simple biology lesson. Zebra are found in the Kingdom - Animalia, the Phylum -- Chordata, the Class -- Mammalia, the Order -- Perissodactyla, the Family -- Equidae, and the Genus -- Equus. There are also two sub-genera for zebra -- Hippotigris and Dolichohippus.

Answer: Grasslands Zebra

Although Zebra are found extensively across Africa's grasslands, savannah, and scrublands, the "Grassland Zebra" is a figment of my imagination. The Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) is an endangered species native to Angola, South Africa, and Namibia. The Plains Zebra (Equus quagga - Equus burchelli) is the most common type of zebra and ranges across much of East Africa and southwards toward Angola and South Africa. Finally, the Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest of the three species and is sometimes known as the Imperial zebra.

It can be found in areas of Kenya and Ethiopia on the semi-arid grasslands. The Grevy's Zebra is also considered endangered due to poaching and loss of habitat.

Answer: Zemule

A Zorse is the sterile offspring of a male zebra and a female horse. Other names for this cross-breed include zebrule, zebrula, zebra mule or golden zebra. The reverse pairing, which is significantly rarer is called a hebra, horbra, or a zebret. A Zeedonk is the result of a cross between a zebra and a donkey. Sometimes this cross is called a zebral, zonkey, zebrass, or a zebonkey. A Zony is the result of a cross between a male zebra and a female pony. One example of a zebra-pony cross is the "Zetland" which is where a zebra is bred with a shetland pony.

Answer: 20-30 Years

While most zebra can live to 20-30 years in the wild, the average life expectancy is closer to 12 years on account of predation. Zebras raised in captivity often live between 30 and 40 years.

Answer: All of these are potential hypotheses

By far the most dominant school of thought suggests that the stripes are a way for the zebra to merge with the tall grasses of the African savannah. Stripes also are thought to confuse predators because when the herd stands together they can assume the appearance of one large animal rather than many separate animals. An additional hypothesis is that the stripes serve as a visual enticement to potential mates. Every zebra has an original pattern and arrangement of stripes, much like humans have unique fingerprints.

Answer: Small group harems with one stallion and up to 6 or 7 mares and their foals

Males will compete against one another for the rights to establish small harems. Usually these groups will travel very closely with one another. When the group is attacked by hyenas or other predators, they will circle up with the foals protected in the center. Young males will also travel together in small groups until such time as they are ready to challenge for their own harem.

The Grevy's Zebra differs from the other two species on account of its preference for a more solitary living arrangement.

Answer: Females are 3 years old, Males are 5 years old

In the wild, female zebras mature 2-3 years earlier than male zebras. A female may have her first foal at 3 years of age and will usually give birth to one foal every 12 months. The mother will suckle and raise her young for at least one year after birth. Mountains and Plains Zebra foals are protected by both the head stallion, mother and the mares in the harem. Grevy's zebra foals only usually have their mother as protection during the first year of birth.

Answer: Quagga

Like something out of Jurassic Park, the Quagga (Equus quagga quagga) is making a comeback after over 120 years of extinction. The Quagga is one of the first extinct animals to have its DNA studied extensively by the Smithsonian Institute. There are catalogued 23 known stuffed Quagga specimens around the world. DNA from a mounted specimen was successfully extracted in 1984 but the technology to use recovered DNA does not currently exist.

However, scientists led by Reinhold Rau discovered a close relationship between the Quagga and surviving species of zebra.

They started the Quagga project in South Africa and have been attempting to recreate the Quagga through a selective breeding program utilizing the Plains Zebra stock. This "breed back" program successfully bred Henry, a Quagga-look alike foal that was born on January 20, 2005. Since then, several more Quagga foals have been born that suggest a striking resemblance to the previous extinct Quagga species of zebra.

Answer: Botswana

The Botswana coat of arms was adopted in 1966. The center shield is supported on either side by two zebras. The zebra on the left is holding a large ivory tusk and the zebra on the right holds an ear of the sorghum crop. The zebra continues to play a very important role in the culture of many African nations. For example, women from the Ugandan Karamojong tribe often paint themselves with zebra stripes and perform dances representing the zebra.

Answer: Wildebeest

Amazingly it is the Wildebeest that has the speed in this group of mammalian Olympians. The wildebeest has been clocked at 50mph. The hyena and zebra would be a close race as both are estimated to run right at 40mph. The human, with the disadvantage of two legs, falls out of contention for a medal with a top speed of only 27mph (Usain Bolt speed -- the average Joe can only manage 15-18mph.).