What subspecies of Zebra are these?

[Wisp O' Mist]

Not my zebras, these guys are part of a private herd in Nebraska. I know they're Plains Zebra, just curious to see what specific subspecies the membership on here think that they are.

I'm thinking Grant's myself.

 

[Zoofan15]

View attachment 662796 View attachment 662797

Not my zebras, these guys are part of a private herd in Nebraska. I know they're Plains Zebra, just curious to see what specific subspecies the membership on here think that they are.

I'm thinking Grant's myself.

They’re not purebred Grant’s as I can see shadow stripes (a feature of the Burchell’s and Chapman’s subspecies). Their stripes are clearly defined (unbroken) and they lack the spidery stripes commonly seen in Chapman’s, so my guess would be either Burchell’s or Burchell’s hybrids.

 

[Kudu21]

There are likely very few purebred plains zebras of any subspecies left in the United States, and certainly not in the private sector — these will be to some degree Grant’s x Burchell’s hybrids.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

They’re not purebred Grant’s as I can see shadow stripes (a feature of the Burchell’s and Chapman’s subspecies). Their stripes are clearly defined (unbroken) and they lack the spidery stripes commonly seen in Chapman’s, so my guess would be either Burchell’s or Burchell’s hybrids.

I'm reasonably certain that all Plains Zebra in the US (Animals in zoos and the private trade alike) are hybrids between the various subspecies, I was just curious to see what specific mixture people here would suggest.

I definitely agree with your suggestion of these guys being of Grant's x Burchell's breeding.

(For those curious, the majority of zebra in the US private pet trade seem to be advertised as Grant's zebras.)

There are likely very few purebred plains zebras of any subspecies left in the United States, and certainly not in the private sector — these will be to some degree Grant’s x Burchell’s hybrids.

I kind of figured as much, just wanted to see what people on here would think.

I've seen Grant's, Burchell's & Chapman zebras advertised in the US private trade. Those appear to be the most common Plains zebra subspecies in America, so certainly zoo and privately-owned animals are in all likelihood a motley mix between all three of them.

Hell, once I even stumbled across a privately owned Grévy's zebra stallion! His owner was offering his semen to horse owners!

 

[TinoPup]

I'm reasonably certain that all Plains Zebra in the US (Animals in zoos and the private trade alike) are hybrids between the various subspecies, I was just curious to see what specific mixture people here would suggest.

I definitely agree with your suggestion of these guys being of Grant's x Burchell's breeding.

(For those curious, the majority of zebra in the US private pet trade seem to be advertised as Grant's zebras.)

Then why did you ask what subspecies they are and say you thought Grant's, if you're reasonably certain they're all hybrids?

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Then why did you ask what subspecies they are and say you thought Grant's, if you're reasonably certain they're all hybrids?

I was already aware that Plains zebras of the various subspecies had been interbred in the US for decades beforehand. (Which is why the AZA is phasing them out in favor of Grevy's and Mountain zebras.)

I just neglected to make that clear in my initial post. I'd never made a post on this site before and had a hell of a time just trying to figure out how to get the photos to show up, so what I wrote was little more than an afterthought. I probably should've used the phrasing "I'm thinking majority Grant's blood myself, but what do you guys think?".

That might've things a bit more clear.

 

[Fallax]

I was not aware that all plains zebra in the US were hybrids, here in Europe there is 4 subspecies managed: Burchell's, Chapman's, Grant's and Maneless.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

I was not aware that all plains zebra in the US were hybrids, here in Europe there is 4 subspecies managed: Burchell's, Chapman's, Grant's and Maneless.

It's a shame that the US population has been hybridized, but it's been going on for generations at this point.

 

[Aardwolf]

Point of order, plains zebras are not being phased out by AZA (they’ve got an SSP and everything) - the Equid TAG is just trying to ensure space for the other zebra species as well to make sure their numbers stay sustainable. You see the same thing in other TAGs where there is one “rockstar” species that really dominates the space survey and the TAG tries to push other species as alternatives to boost populations

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Point of order, plains zebras are not being phased out by AZA (they’ve got an SSP and everything) - the Equid TAG is just trying to ensure space for the other zebra species as well to make sure their numbers stay sustainable.

Interesting, because the zebra species profiles from azaungulates.org suggest otherwise.

Plains Zebra - https://www.azaungulates.org/s/Plains-zebra-bnnk.pdf

"TAG Recommendation: The equid spaces
occupied by plains zebras are needed for the
conservation-concern Grevy’s zebra and mountain
zebra programs. Zoos are urged to switch away
from plains zebras where possible."

Mountain Zebra - https://www.azaungulates.org/s/Mountain-zebra.pdf

"TAG Recommendation: Zoos with plains zebras in
mixed species exhibits are urged to replace them
with mountain zebras."

Grevy’s Zebra - https://www.azaungulates.org/s/Grevys-zebra.pdf

"TAG Recommendation: Zoos with common
(plains) zebras in single-species exhibits are urged
to replace them with Grevy’s zebras."

Are the profiles out of date then?

 

[Kudu21]

Interesting, because the zebra species profiles from azaungulates.org suggest otherwise.

Plains Zebra - https://www.azaungulates.org/s/Plains-zebra-bnnk.pdf

"TAG Recommendation: The equid spaces
occupied by plains zebras are needed for the
conservation-concern Grevy’s zebra and mountain
zebra programs. Zoos are urged to switch away
from plains zebras where possible."

Mountain Zebra - https://www.azaungulates.org/s/Mountain-zebra.pdf

"TAG Recommendation: Zoos with plains zebras in
mixed species exhibits are urged to replace them
with mountain zebras."

Grevy’s Zebra - https://www.azaungulates.org/s/Grevys-zebra.pdf

"TAG Recommendation: Zoos with common
(plains) zebras in single-species exhibits are urged
to replace them with Grevy’s zebras."

Are the profiles out of date then?

“Urged to replace” does not equate to “phase out entirely”. The Equid TAG only wishes to decrease the holding size and population of plains zebra in order to increase the holding size and population of the other two more conservation-dependent species. The plains zebra population is still managed for a healthy population, but they are being managed in a way to decrease that population. It’s a similar situation to that of generic giraffe, where the population is still a managed, breeding population, but it is being managed with the intent of decreasing the population in favor of Masai. It would be unreasonable to expect a full phase-out of either populations when they’re large, genetically robust, and crowd-pleasing. They’re just being managed to now fill the gaps instead of be the main focus.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

“Urged to replace” does not equate to “phase out entirely”. The Equid TAG only wishes to decrease the holding size and population of plains zebra in order to increase the holding size and population of the other two more conservation-dependent species. The plains zebra population is still managed for a healthy population, but they are being managed in a way to decrease that population. It’s a similar situation to that of generic giraffe, where the population is still a managed, breeding population, but it is being managed with the intent of decreasing the population in favor of Masai. It would be unreasonable to expect a full phase-out of either populations when they’re large, genetically robust, and crowd-pleasing. They’re just being managed to now fill the gaps instead of be the main focus.

Hmm, the more you know. Thank you.

 

[lintworm]

I was not aware that all plains zebra in the US were hybrids, here in Europe there is 4 subspecies managed: Burchell's, Chapman's, Grant's and Maneless.

Many of those are hybrids too, though zoos ( and zootierliste) won't say so. There are pure groups around, but tgat is not the standard.

And identification based on pattern alone is difficult too, there are pure Grant's zebra with shadow stripes too...