The Grant's zebra is the smallest subspecies of the Plains Zebra.

Distribution

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The distribution of this subspecies is in Zambia west of the Luangwa river and west to Kariba, Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north to the Kibanzao Plateau. In Tanzania north from Nyangaui and Kibwezi into southwestern Kenya as fas as Sotik. It can also be found in eastern Kenya and east of the Rift Valley into southernmost Ethiopia. Perhaps it also occurs as far as the Juba River in Somalia.

Upper Zambezi Zebras

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Duncan (1992) recognised the Upper Zambezi Zebra (Equus quagga zambeziensis Prazak, 1898). Groves and Bell (2004) come to the conclusion that the zebras from West Zambia and Malawi cannot be distinguished cranially and that they differ only slightly from other northern plains zebras. The rather minor size difference does not justify a separate subspecific status for the Upper Zambezi Zebra. Therefore, they combine these zebras with the Grant's Zebra (Equus quagga boehmi).

Characteristics

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This northern subspecies is striped with black on a white coat on its head, neck, flanks, haunches and whole of the limbs down to the hoofs. Shadow stripes are absent or only poorly expressed. The stripes are broad as well are the innerspaces. Northerly specimens may lack a mane. This completely maneless Somali population may represent even a seventh subspecies: Equus quagga isabella (Ziccardi, 1958). This subspecies may be valid, but at present there is no evidence that it is.

Regional extinctions

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Recent civil wars in Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda have caused dramatic declines in all wildlife populations, including those of Grant’s zebra. It is now extinct in Burundi. Civil war in Angola during much of the past 25 years has devastated its wildlife populations, including its once-abundant plains zebra, and destroyed the national parks administration and infrastructure. Consequently, the Grant's Zebra is probably extinct or nearly so in Angola, although confirmation will have to wait until future surveys are conducted.

References

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• Duncan, P. (ed.). 1992. Zebras, Asses, and Horses: an Action Plan for the Conservation of Wild Equids. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
• Groves, C.P. & Bell, H.B. 2004. New investigations on the taxonomy of the zebras genus Equus, subgenus Hippotigris. Mammalian Biology. 69: 182-196.
• Moelman, P.D. 2002. Equids. Zebras, Assess and Horses. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. (http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/pubs/sscaps.htm#Equids2002)

Equids | Wildlife of Africa