Adaptations
High-crowned teeth process abrasive grasses, mobile ears track sound, and strong limbs support sustained travel. Stripes may serve several functions, with evidence supporting reduced biting-fly landings among the leading explanations.
Behavior and daily life
Stable family groups commonly include one stallion, several mares, and their young. Multiple families and bachelor groups can gather into large herds around water, fresh grass, or migration routes.
Conservation
Current profile labelNear Threatened
Plains zebras remain widespread but face fencing, habitat conversion, competition with livestock, hunting, and reduced access to water or migration routes in parts of their range.
Every plains zebra has an individual stripe arrangement, including variation in width and shadow striping among populations.
