This species is named after a British naturalist William John Burchell (1782 - 1863). There are five living kinds of plains zebras and one kind (Burchell's, E. b. burchellii) that is extinct. The living Burchell's zebras are Grant's (E. b. boehmi), Upper Zambezi (E. b. zambesiansis), Crawshay's (E. b. crawshayi), Chapman's (E. b. chapmani), and Damara (E. b. antiquorum). A special characteristic between the kinds of zebra is a north to south difference in the striping. The equatorial kinds of zebra like the Grant's zebra, have bold striping on the hindquarters, legs and belly. Moving towards the southern subspecies, the stripes become less defined like in the Damaraland zebra where the lower legs and belly are not striped.
1) Grant's zebra
Equus burchelli bohmi
Eastern Africa - Kenya and Tanzania.
2) Selousi or Zambezi zebra
Equus burchelli zambesiansis
Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, and Northern Rhodesia.
3) Crawshay's zebra
Equus burchelli crawshayi
Zambia
4) Chapmann's zebra
Equus burchelli chapmani
Mozambique, Zimbabwe
5) Damaraland zebra
Equus burchelli antiquorum
Namibia
Physical Description-Adults
Male Burchell's zebras generally weigh 250 kg. or 550lb. Females generally weigh 220 kg. or 484lbs. An adult Burchell's zebra is (112-147cm) or 44-58 inches at the shoulder. In the northern subspecies the white hindquarter stripes are chestnut or gray in color. The muzzle is black and a short stiff mane runs down the back of the neck. The tail has a whisk of long black hair. In areas where the plains and the mountain zebra might be seen in together the characteristic that seperates the kinds of Burchell's zebras or plains zebras is the lack the dewlap on the throat.
Physical Description-Foals
Foals weigh about 31 to 33 kg. or 70lbs. Foals have longer coat hair with brown stripes that turn darker with age.
Life Cycle
Burchell's zebras carry their foals for 11 to 13 months. Foals can be born on any month, but most are born when the rains comes to the African plains. It's possible that a mare could give birth to a foal every year. This is most likely to occur with mares that are in good physical condition that can become pregnant soon after birth of a foal. Others become pregnant in two-year intervals. The dominant male or stallion stands nearby as mares give birth to their foals. Like most kinds of zebra, the young are able to stand with 15 minutes and run within an hour. Foals usually drink mothers milk within an hour. Foals will start eating grass a few days after birth and wean from their mother's milk within 11 months. The first time a female can become pregnant is at 2 to 3 years. Young males leave their family groups after 2 or 3 years and reach breeding age at 4 to 5 years. In the wild Burchell's zebras may live into their twenties and into their mid to late twenties in captivity.
Behavioral Description
Burchell's zebras live in bachelor groups and small with 2 to 15 individuals. Family groups may compose 5 or up to 20 individuals. Family groups consist of a dominant male or stallion, mares and offspring. The lifestyles of these groups are dependent on the availability of food and water. Where food and water are sufficient groups stay remain where they are. In the areas where there are seasonal grasses, groups come together and form large herds and migrate in search of food. As a herd they may migrate up to 805km (500 miles) per year. Herds or groups are very dependent on water, and do not wander too far from waterholes. Burchell's zebras drink at least once per day. The first mare and her offspring have dominance over mares that join the family group after her. The second mare that joins has dominance over the third and so on with the last mare to join having the least dominance. It is the responsibility of the dominant mare to guide the group as they migrate to new areas. Stallions remain ready to defend their mares and offspring from all threats to their survival.
The stallion defends its home range which could be 30 sq. km (11 sq miles) or as big as 600 sq km (232 sq miles) for migrating family groups. A stallion defends his mares from predators and other stallions that are trying to steal mares for his own family group. At times, when a mare is ready to mate, there may be up to 18 stallions around the herd fighting with each other and the dominant family stallion for a chance to steal the mating mare from the family group. After her first mating periods mares display their willingness to mate much more secretly after the first foal. New family groups are most often started by abducting mares from family groups. A stallion has the potential life span of 20 years and is fit to fight off other stallions for 15 years. The chances that a stallion would inherit a family group are low.
Habitat Description
Berchell's zebras live in open, dry grassy plains or well-grassed woodlands. Plants that grow in their habitat are species of Acacia tree; species of euphorbs (a plant exuding a bitter milky juice) and many kinds of grasses.
Environmental Interactions
The Burchell's zebra is adapted to a broad range of grassland habitats. It's the only herbivore in the savannah to have both upper and lower incisors. It's one of the first to enter grassland habitats, followed by wildebeests and gazelles. Burchell's zebras cut the tall grasses down to the more nutritious parts of the grass plants. Burchell's will occasionally browse, taking herbs, leaves and twigs. Their favorite food is new grass growth shortly after a burn. Lions and hyenas are their major predators and take many foals.
Status in the Wild
Burchell's Zebras are listed as "least concern" by the IUCN
Population Estimates
No reliable estimate was found. There has been some decrease in their historical range. It has been reported that populations in some African national parks are increasing.
Historical Range
(Maps are approximations)
Burchell's zebras occur throughout the southeastern portions of Africa.
Modern Range
Burchell's zebras occur throughout the southeastern portions of Africa.
Conservation Information
Scientists do not fully understand how Burchell's zebras are related which is important to understanding the best way to manage them in the wild. The habitat for these zebras is decreasing as it is being used for crops and domesticated animal grazing. .
Conservation Efforts
Work needs to be done on how Burchell's zebras are related so scientists understand how to manage the subspecies of this taxonomic group. Native people should be given opportunities for learning the importance of zebras and how people, livestock and crops can coexist.
