Page 27 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Read my lips

Zebras have expressive faces and use a complex system of sounds

Plains zebras regularly use a selection of 20 different facial situation to others around it. Zebras
expressions to communicate. They lower their head and and their relatives can whinny, squeal,
pull back their ears to display submission or bite the air snort and even roar, depending on the
with their ears forward to initiate a play session. Amazingly message they are trying to get across.
these animals can use this method of communication as The tricky part is working out which
a silent alarm, warning others that danger is close simply animal is piping up, as zebras have
by pulling a face. The distinctions of each expression is so difficulty pinpointing the source of a

slight that scientists had to use complex analysis methods sound and how far away it is. Typically,

to find subtle differences between them. zebras perform loud vocalisations if they
Zebras don’t stay quiet for long, however, and studies lose sight of their close friends. Stallions
have shown that horses and their relatives whinny roughly will squeal to assert their dominance and
every seven hours. Equine vocalisation can portray foals give out distress calls to get their
the animal’s health status, emotional state and present mother’s attention.

Life in the herd

Fight club
A zebra has a lot to fit in during a A male hoping to

typical day on the African plains mate with a filly may

have to battle her
We’ve all seen the horror of herbivores being Eat your greens father. These brutal
hunted by hungry meat-eaters on nature Energy is the most encounters begin
documentaries, but there’s so much more to a vital resource on the with a chase, but
zebra’s life. While avoiding becoming a meal is African plains, and to can end in death.
high on their list of priorities, a zebra also needs to get enough a zebra
bond with friends, keep clean and raise the family.
has to spend up to
half its time grazing.
Mother’s milk
Zebra foals rely on milk
for the first year of

their lives. It’s roughly
two per cent fat, two
per cent protein and
seven per cent lactose.

Hiding in plain sight
Predators walk openly
through the savannah
and zebras have to
be on constant alert.
The huddled mass of
stripes is confusing for
a predator.

Another one bites
the dust
Taking advantage of Daily drink
Typically drinking once per
the dry ground, zebras day, zebras quench their thirst
use the coarse dirt to
at water holes. In dry seasons
combat hard-to-reach they can dig up to 50cm (2ft) to
harmful parasites like reach the water table.
ticks or bot flies.

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