Grevy's Zebra

The Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), sometimes known as the imperial zebra, is the largest species of zebra. It is found in the wild in Kenya and Ethiopia. Compared to other zebras, it is tall, has large ears, and its stripes are narrower. The species is named after Jules Grévy, a president of France, who, in the 1880s, was given one by the government of Abyssinia. The Grevy's zebra differs from all other zebras in its primitive characteristics and different behaviour. In fact, "zebra" does not describe any specific taxon and is used only to refer to black and white striped members of the family Equidae. All members of the family are of the genus Equus, but the genus is commonly subdivided into four subgenera; Equus, Asinus, Hippotigris and Dolichohippus. The plains zebra and mountain zebra belong to Hippotigris, but the Grevy's zebra is the sole species of Dolichohippus. In many respects, it is more akin to the asses (Asinus), while the other zebras are more closely related to the horses (Equus). In certain regions of Kenya, the plains zebras and Grevy's zebras coexist.