The zebra is not a small, striped horse. With their distinctive stripes, they are one of the many species of African equid which are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Their genus (Equus) and species (zebra) were first identified and described by German zoologist Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb Schimper in 1857. This article will cover what zebras eat, how big they are, their habitat, and conservation efforts that have been made for them. Stay Tuned!
Zebra’s Lifestyle
That is very different from confined zebras that feed only once a day. But zebras that live in the savanna are actually accustomed to preferring less nutritious grass. Many species of zebras live in arid regions where rainfall may be scarce, and zebras’ bellies have become accustomed to digesting more rough and fibrous plants and converting them into fuel efficiently. This type of grass is not digested by most other animals in the savanna, but zebras have a hard time digesting short, nutritious grass and a lot of protein which is popular with some predators. But with little competition for their favorite food sources and this tall grass well equipped to survive the drought, zebras are adapted to a wider range of conditions and in extreme conditions than other lowland pastures.
But difficult times can also require a change of heart. Although 90% of zebra feeds will have a variety of grasses in the savanna, they are also known to eat trees, branches, and even small trees. When conditions get extremely low, zebras can be seen plucking bark from trees to eat. Zebra teeth are accustomed to their position in the same way as their bellies. Sharp incisors separate the hard grass and shoots and are then crushed by a heavy molar.
Zebra’s eating habits
To cope with all that chewing, the zebra’s teeth will continue to grow throughout its life. The zebra’s amazing body structure ensures that food is usually readily available, but the real threat to the wild is access to water. Although zebras can live for up to three days without water, they need regular access to water to thrive. This is not always easy in arid grasslands, which zebras often call home.
Here are the most frequently asked questions and their answers about zebras and their diet.
Do zebras eat meat?
Zebras are strict herbivores. They have strong teeth and jaws designed to crush coarse vegetation, but their teeth would be highly ineffective at killing prey or tearing fresh flesh. And the unique stomachs that allow zebras to digest grass with low nutritional value in large quantities are simply not designed for processing meat.
Do zebras eat fruits?
While zebras may occasionally find a snack in the form of fallen fruit, it is not common enough to be considered part of their regular diet. Zebras in captivity are sometimes given fruits like apples as a treat.
What type of grass zebra eat?
Zebra tends to prefer long, rough grass that is high in fiber and low in protein and nutrients. Bermuda grass and red oat grass are two particularly popular choices for plains zebras.
What do zebras eat in the wild?
The majority of the zebra’s diet consists of grass. They supplement it with shrubs, herbs, roots and other vegetarian food sources. Some zebra species will rely on browsing when grazing options are not readily available.
Do zebras eat acacia trees?
Acacia leaves are an important food source for many of Africa’s largest herbivores. These herbivores include giraffes, zebras and elephants etc.
Do zebras eat fish?
No, zebras don’t eat fish at all. Fish is simply not part of their normal diet. Zebras are herbivores and have a plant-based diet.
Do Zebras eat carrots?
Zebras enjoy vegetables, so they eat carrots and will eat them without a problem. Carrots are actually healthy for zebras.
Do zebras eat cactus?
Seeing zebras are herbivores, they will definitely eat cacti if they have nothing else to eat and have access to them.
Do zebras eat chocolate?
Zebras can eat chocolate, but not much, as chocolate is known to contain toxins that can be fatal to most animals.
Do zebras eat dog food?
Zebras can eat dog food, but it depends on the type of dog food. Zebras do not eat meat, so this must be taken into account when feeding your zebra.
Diet in the wild
Africa’s savannahs and grasslands can support dozens of grazing herbivores, with huge monsters like rhinos and elephants able to live mostly in peace with impalas and wildebeests. But research into zebra habits suggests that such a balance could not exist without them. Aside from their distinct black and white stripes, these equids closely resemble wild horses in temperament, appearance, and diet. And just like horses, they feed mainly on a diet of grasses. But what makes them different from other grass-eating herbivores is that they prefer long grass to short grass. Zebras thus have few competitors in their diet, even though they spend up to 18 hours a day feeding.
Final Thoughts
Because of the harsh environment they live in, zebra bodies have evolved to increase their chances of survival. Among other things, they have bacteria in their stomach that help digest food. Compared to other herbivores, such as cows, they can get more nutrition from less grass. Zebras mostly feed on grass as their main source of nutrition. They add shrubs, herbs, roots and other vegetarian food sources to their diet. When grazing options are limited, some zebra species resort to browsing.
Summary
The zebra is not a small, striped horse. With their distinctive stripes, they are one of the many species of African equid which are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Their genus (Equus) and species (zebra) were first identified and described by German zoologist Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb Schimper in 1857. That is very different from confined zebras that feed only once a day. But zebras that live in the savanna are actually accustomed to preferring less nutritious grass. Although zebras can live for up to three days without water, they need regular access to water to thrive. This is not always easy in arid grasslands, which zebras often call home. Africa’s savannahs and grasslands can support dozens of grazing herbivores, with huge monsters like rhinos and elephants able to live mostly in peace with impalas and wildebeests.