The black-and-white striped African equid is commonly called a zebra. Zebras are wild members of the horse family, or Equidae, and Africa has three living species: the plains zebra, mountain zebra, and Grevy’s zebra.
Their stripes are not identical from one animal to another. Each zebra has a unique pattern, much like a fingerprint. Scientists have proposed several functions for the stripes, including confusing biting flies and making it harder for predators to single out an individual in a moving herd. The pattern may also help zebras recognize one another.
Zebras are often described as striped horses, but they are not domesticated horses with unusual coloring. Plains zebras are the most widespread species and commonly live in grasslands and savannas. Grevy’s zebras have narrower, more numerous stripes, while mountain zebras have a distinctive dewlap and live in rugged habitats.