The zebra, a genus of horse in the family Equidae, lives in Africa and is related to the horse. According to zoologists, the zebra began to evolve from the proto-horse about four million years ago and then became what it is today. According to the fossils of prehistoric equids present in the National Museum of Kern County, the evolution of the proto-horse into the zebra began with the first appearance of the fine-striped zebra, which then slowly evolved into the zebra of today. Zebras were herbivores and apart from grass, shrubs, twigs, leaves, and even tree bark were also part of their diet. Because of their adaptable digestive system, zebras can survive in low nutrient conditions and are superior to other herbivores.

There are three species of zebra, the mountain zebra, the common zebra, and the fine-striped zebra, which can be distinguished by the pattern of their markings, the shape of their ears, and their size, and all three have similar habits.

The zebra has a body length of 2-2.4m, a tail length of 47-57cm, a shoulder height of 1.2-1.4m, and a weight of around 350kg. Zebras give birth in spring and have a gestation period of 345-390 days.

Zebras are native to eastern, central, and southern Africa and prefer to inhabit plains and grasslands (mountain zebras are found in mountainous areas). Zebras are gregarious, often grouping together in herds of 10-12, or sometimes mixing with other groups of animals such as bull gazelles and even opossums. Older male zebras are occasionally solitary. They can run very fast, up to 64 km/h. Zebras often drink water and rarely go far from water sources. They are also characterized by their fat and shiny coat, even when food is scarce.

The zebra is one of the most famous African animals. They can live very well and are found in many zoos and circuses. Zebras are resistant to common African diseases, whereas horses are not. So some countries and private institutions have tried to domesticate zebras and cross-breed them with horses. Neither of these options is very feasible. Male zebras have been crossed with mares and female donkeys, and such crosses have been exhibited at the National Zoo in the USA.

The mountain zebra, which is only found in the hills of South West Africa and the Cape Province of South Africa, is the smallest species of zebra and the first to be scientifically described and named. Unlike the other two species, it has large, long, donkey-like ears; its body is finely striped, with a wide rump stripe and a lattice-like stripe along its upper spine; and it has a throat pouch. The mountain zebra is rare.

The common zebra is the most widespread species. Some areas of the Common Zebra's range overlap with the Mountain Zebra and the Fine-striped Zebra. The common zebra prefers to inhabit grasslands with abundant water and grass. They remain in the same area for most of the year, moving only when food and water are scarce. Tanzania's Serengeti Plains are rich in fauna and sometimes hundreds of zebra move in large groups with other animals to fresh grassland. They often graze alongside other herbivores such as bull, impetuous, and pronghorn antelope. A group of zebras usually consists of a male and his family. When the mare is in heat, the stallion occupies a territory that is not allowed to be invaded by foreign animals, but after the heat period, they mix with other zebra herds.

The common zebra is divided into several subspecies based on the pattern of stripes on its body, the better known of which are the grizzly zebra and the chamois zebra.