A further point against the hybrid idea is the marked sexual dimorphism; I cannot imagine what the crested parent would have to be, to produce this combination of colour and markings.
Re the 'Golden Days' zebra cart photo, I had completely forgotten it, and yes, this team are all definitely zebras. At least one of the hind pair has no shadow striping though; what race of Plains Zebra would that make it?
I'd forgotten about them featuring on ancient Japanese vases etc but that's true. And I agree, the dimorphism indicates to me it was a genuine species and also the markings are all clearcut, indicating pure species, not 'fudged' as is usually the case with hybrid waterfowl. The sheldduck species of New Zealand has a comparable amount of dimoprhism too.
Zebras- a non shadow-striped zebra might be a Grants- the East African race but I think in this case its a Chapman's like the others but one with faint/no shadow stripes (individuals can vary a lot). Grants has bold striping including right down the legs, and this one doesn't- its leg striping is the same as its companions'.
I'd forgotten about them featuring on ancient Japanese vases etc but that's true. And I agree, the dimorphism indicates to me it was a genuine species and also the markings are all clearcut, indicating pure species, not 'fudged' as is usually the case with hybrid waterfowl. The sheldduck species of New Zealand has a comparable amount of dimoprhism too.
I would suggest Paradise Shelduck as the likely nearest relative of the Crested; wonder if anyone's looked at the DNA. On a personal note, it's one of the animals I'd most like to see
