How many zebra species are there?

Three living species are widely recognized: plains zebra (Equus quagga), mountain zebra (Equus zebra), and Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi).

What is the rarest zebra species?

Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) is the rarest, with wild estimates in the low thousands and a range largely restricted to northern Kenya and small pockets of Ethiopia.

Zebra Guide (2025-2026): Species, stripes, threats, and conservation

Executive snapshot

As of early 2026, the three zebra species track very different conservation realities: plains zebras remain widespread but have declined from historical baselines; mountain zebras show recovery in parts of southern Africa; and Grevy's zebra remains Endangered with a restricted range in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Primary sources: IFAW (zebra facts), Marwell studbook (Grevy).

Living zebra species

3

Plains (E. quagga), mountain (E. zebra), Grevy (E. grevyi)

Plains zebra (global)

500k-750k

Still numerous, but reported ~25% decline since 1992 (Near Threatened)

Mountain zebra (mature)

~34,979

Vulnerable; drought + genetic diversity are key constraints

Cape mountain zebra

80 -> 5,693

A standout recovery arc in South Africa (to 2023)

Grevy's zebra (wild)

2,465-3,100

Endangered; Kenyan 2025 census reported 2,465 individuals

Grevy's zebra (Ethiopia)

~126

Reported ~90% decline from ~1,900 (1980 baseline)

Estimates vary by method and year. Values here are presented as a practical dashboard for the 2024-2026 window.

Taxonomy and evolutionary context

Zebras are extant members of the genus Equus. Across the three species, chromosomal and ecological differences shape social systems, range use, and how drought pressure plays out on the ground.

Plains zebra

Equus quagga

Status: Near Threatened (widely reported)
Social unit: stable harem
Stripe pattern: broad, variable
Note: quagga recognized as a southern subspecies lineage

Mountain zebra

Equus zebra

Status: Vulnerable
Social unit: stable harem
Stripe pattern: narrow; "gridiron" rump
Conservation lever: managed translocations protect diversity

Grevy's zebra

Equus grevyi

Status: Endangered
Social system: fission-fusion with territorial males
Stripe pattern: very thin; white belly
Stronghold: northern Kenya + isolated Ethiopian pockets

Comparative metrics (expand)

Feature	Plains	Mountain	Grevy
Chromosomes	44	32	46
Average weight	220-322 kg	240-370 kg	350-450 kg
Max speed	~65 km/h	~60 km/h	~64 km/h
Primary social unit	stable harem	stable harem	territorial / fission-fusion

Ecology: zebras as pioneer grazers

Zebras are hindgut fermenters that can process tough grasses. Their grazing can open up forage for more selective herbivores, supporting savanna grazing succession.

Grassland facilitation

Pioneer grazing: opens pasture for more selective grazers
Nutrient cycling: redistributes nitrogen through dung
Seed dispersal: moves plant material across wide ranges

Predator-prey base

Zebras are key prey for apex predators, including lions
Related reading: Lion report

Water strategy differences

Grevy: can persist several days without drinking
Plains: generally more water-dependent
Implication: drought impacts species unevenly

Stripe science: what stripes are likely for

The strongest current support points to biting-fly deterrence as a primary functional driver of zebra stripes.

Biting fly deterrence

High-contrast striping disrupts fly approach and landing
Lower landings can reduce irritation and disease transmission risk
Field-style tests (striped cattle) report reduced biting-fly attacks

Key reading: University of Bristol, Ig Nobel (flies).

Not primarily camouflage

Predator-vision simulations suggest stripes do not hide outlines at distance
Beyond tens of meters, predators may not resolve striping clearly

Key reading: UC Davis summary.

Stripe diversity is data

Stripe width, belly striping, and rump patterns differ by species
Differences likely map to ecology, parasites, and local selection pressures

Threats

The major drivers are drought extremes, habitat fragmentation, and direct offtake (meat + skin trade), with the highest risk concentrated in Grevy's range.

Climate volatility and drought

Longer dry spells increase juvenile mortality and stress
Competition rises at water points as livestock concentrates
Grevy's populations are highly exposed in semi-arid rangelands

Habitat loss + fragmentation

Roads, farms, and fencing can block migrations and isolate groups
Small, isolated baselines can lose genetic diversity rapidly
Corridor protection becomes a primary conservation tool

Poaching and illegal trade

Meat hunting and skin trade pressure persist in multiple range states
Weak enforcement and instability can collapse local populations quickly

Solutions

Zebra conservation is increasingly landscape-driven: data, corridors, and community rangeland governance. For Grevy's zebra, Kenya remains the pivot.

Citizen science and repeatable counts

Large photo-based censuses can improve coverage in remote rangelands
Redundant counting reduces error in mobile, wide-ranging populations
Maps identify hotspots for targeted protection and rangeland work

Suggested reading: Grevy's Zebra Trust (report).

Rangeland regeneration

Reduce overgrazing by improving livestock practices and governance
Support local livelihoods to reduce pressure on wildlife
Improve drought resilience by restoring grass cover and soil function

Corridors and connectivity

Protect movement routes between parks and conservancies
Connectivity improves drought resilience and genetic exchange
Corridors reduce the risk of local extinctions in isolated fragments

The Quagga Project (phenotype resurrection) - what it is and isn't

The quagga was a southern plains zebra lineage with reduced striping and a brownish coat. The Quagga Project selectively breeds living plains zebras with quagga-like coat traits to recover a similar phenotype ("Rau Quaggas"). This can recover aspects of appearance, but it does not recreate the extinct population's full ecological history.

Official reference: quaggaproject.org.

Zebra photo gallery

Zebra-only images from our library. Click a photo to open it larger.

2 photos - tip: click any image to zoom.

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