The zebra belongs to the horse family.
The
zebra
belongs
to
the
horse
family
.
One of nature's great mysteries is why the zebra has stripes.
One
of
nature
's
great
mysteries
is
why
the
zebra
has
stripes
.
One theory is that the stripes help the zebra cool down.
One
theory
is
that
the
stripes
help
the
zebra
cool
down
.
On hot days the black stripes get a lot hotter than the white area of the zebra and under the black stripes there are special layers of fat for protection.
On
hot
days
the
black
stripes
get
a
lot
hotter
than
the
white
area
of
the
zebra
and
under
the
black
stripes
there
are
special
layers
of
fat
for
protection
.
Hot air then rises off the black stripes, forcing colder air down around the white areas, cooling the zebra down.
Hot
air
then
rises
off
the
black
stripes
,
forcing
colder
air
down
around
the
white
areas
,
cooling
the
zebra
down
.
This, however, is just a kind of theory.
This
,
however
,
is
just
a
kind
of
theory
.
The stripes can also confuse predators when zebras stay with other animals in great numbers.
The
stripes
can
also
confuse
predators
when
zebras
stay
with
other
animals
in
great
numbers
.
Zebras have excellent hearing and eyesight and can run at speeds of up to 56 kilometers per hour.
Zebras
have
excellent
hearing
and
eyesight
and
can
run
at
speeds
of
up
to
56
kilometers
per
hour
.
They also have a powerful kick that can cause serious injury to a predator, like a lion, or an African wild dog.
They
also
have
a
powerful
kick
that
can
cause
serious
injury
to
a
predator
,
like
a
lion
,
or
an
African
wild
dog
.
Usually the lead male of the herd stays at the back of the group to defend against predators if necessary, while the females and youngsters escape danger.
Usually
the
lead
male
of
the
herd
stays
at
the
back
of
the
group
to
defend
against
predators
if
necessary
,
while
the
females
and
youngsters
escape
danger
.
Zebras are herbivores that feed only on plants and live mostly by eating grasses, although they also might eat a bit on the leaves and stems of bushes.
Zebras
are
herbivores
that
feed
only
on
plants
and
live
mostly
by
eating
grasses
,
although
they
also
might
eat
a
bit
on
the
leaves
and
stems
of
bushes
.
They eat grasses for many hours each day, using their strong teeth.
They
eat
grasses
for
many
hours
each
day
,
using
their
strong
teeth
.
Spending so much time chewing wears the zebras' teeth down, so their teeth keep growing all their lives.
Spending
so
much
time
chewing
wears
the
zebras
'
teeth
down
,
so
their
teeth
keep
growing
all
their
lives
.
As the dry season arrives and the grasses die back, zebra herds travel to find more food and water holes for drinking.
As
the
dry
season
arrives
and
the
grasses
die
back
,
zebra
herds
travel
to
find
more
food
and
water
holes
for
drinking
.
Most zebras have no specific territories.
Most
zebras
have
no
specific
territories
.
They travel from place to place, never staying in one area very long.
They
travel
from
place
to
place
,
never
staying
in
one
area
very
long
.
The zebra belongs to the horse family. One of nature's great mysteries is why the zebra has stripes. One theory is that the stripes help the zebra cool down. On hot days the black stripes get a lot hotter than the white area of the zebra and under the black stripes there are special layers of fat for protection. Hot air then rises off the black stripes, forcing colder air down around the white areas, cooling the zebra down. This, however, is just a kind of theory. The stripes can also confuse predators when zebras stay with other animals in great numbers.  Zebras have excellent hearing and eyesight and can run at speeds of up to 56 kilometers per hour. They also have a powerful kick that can cause serious injury to a predator, like a lion, or an African wild dog. Usually the lead male of the herd stays at the back of the group to defend against predators if necessary, while the females and youngsters escape danger.  Zebras are herbivores that feed only on plants and live mostly by eating grasses, although they also might eat a bit on the leaves and stems of bushes. They eat grasses for many hours each day, using their strong teeth. Spending so much time chewing wears the zebras' teeth down, so their teeth keep growing all their lives. As the dry season arrives and the grasses die back, zebra herds travel to find more food and water holes for drinking. Most zebras have no specific territories. They travel from place to place, never staying in one area very long.