منزلگه ققنوس          

On grassy African tablelands, from Ethiopia south to the Cape of Good Hope, graze the fleet and wary zebras, the striped members of the horse family Equidae. All zebra species have decreased in number because of human activities, and some are considered endangered. Because they readily breed in captivity, there is still hope of maintaining zebra populations in zoos and game preserves.

The zebra stands between 47 and 55 inches (120 and 140 centimeters) tall at the shoulders. All zebras are distinguishable by the various arrangements of dark stripes on their heads, bodies, legs, and tails. Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli), found from Ethiopia to South Africa, has lighter “shadow stripes” between the main stripes. The extinct quagga (E. quagga) had stripes only on the head, neck, and front quarters. In Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya live the largest species, Grevy's zebra (E. grevyi). It is noted for its enormous ears, narrow and closely spaced stripes, and white belly. The mountain zebra (E. zebra) of the Cape of Good Hope is the smallest species and bears a peculiar gridlike pattern of stripes on the rump.

Zebras live in small family groups consisting of a stallion and several mares with their foals. Grevy's zebra mares sometimes form separate groups from the stallions. When food is plentiful, the small groups may merge temporarily into large herds, while keeping their group identity. Frequently zebras form mixed herds with other animals who gain protection from predators by the zebras' keen sense of hearing.