Editing Plains zebra (section)

{{Short description|Species of zebra}}
{{Good article}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = [[Pleistocene]] – Recent<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=90653|title = Fossilworks: Equus quagga}}</ref>
| image = Equus quagga burchellii - Etosha, 2014.jpg
| image_caption = [[Burchell's zebra]] (''E. quagga burchellii'') at [[Etosha National Park]] in [[Namibia]]
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=King, S.R.B. |author2=Moehlman, P.D. |date=2016 |title=''Equus quagga'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T41013A45172424 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T41013A45172424.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Equus
| parent = Equus (Hippotigris)
| species = quagga
| authority = [[Pieter Boddaert|Boddaert]], 1785
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
| synonyms = * ''Equus burchelli'' <small>(Gray, 1824) [orth. error]</small>
* ''Equus burchellii'' <small>Schinz, 1845</small>
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = ''[[Quagga|E. q. quagga]]'' <br />
''[[Burchell's zebra|E. q. burchellii]]''<br />
''[[Grant's zebra|E. q. boehmi]]''<br />
''[[Maneless zebra|E. q. borensis]]''<br />
''[[Chapman's zebra|E. q. chapmani]]''<br />
''[[Crawshay's zebra|E. q. crawshayi]]''<br />
''[[Selous' zebra|E. q. selousi]]''
| range_map = Plains Zebra area.png
| range_map_caption = {{legend0|#9f1105|&nbsp;plains zebra range}}
}}
The '''plains zebra''' ('''''Equus quagga''''', formerly ''Equus burchellii'') is the most common and geographically widespread species of [[zebra]]. Its range is fragmented, but spans much of southern and eastern Africa south of the [[Sahara]]. Six or seven [[subspecies]] have been recognised, including the [[quagga]] which was thought to be a separate species. More recent research supports variations in zebra populations being [[Cline (biology)|cline]]s rather than subspecies.

Plains zebras are intermediate in size between the larger [[Grévy's zebra]] and the smaller [[mountain zebra]] and tend to have broader stripes than both. Great variation in coat patterns exists between clines and individuals. The plains zebra's habitat is generally, but not exclusively, treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands, both tropical and temperate. They generally avoid desert, dense rainforest and permanent wetlands. Zebras are preyed upon by [[lion]]s and [[spotted hyena]]s, [[Nile crocodile]]s and, to a lesser extent, [[African leopard|leopards]], [[cheetah]]s and [[African wild dog]]s.

Plains zebras are a highly social species, forming harems with a single [[stallion]], several [[mare]]s and their recent offspring; bachelor groups also form. Groups may come together to form herds. The animals keep watch for predators; they bark or snort when they see a predator and the harem stallion attacks predators to defend his harem.

The plains zebra remains common in [[game reserve]]s, but is threatened by human activities, such as hunting for its meat and hide, as well as competition with [[livestock]] and encroachment by farming on much of its [[habitat]]. The loss of open grasslands due to [[woody plant encroachment]] increases predation risk and therewith habitat.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Anping |last2=Reperant |first2=Leslie |last3=Fischhoff |first3=Ilya R. |last4=Rubenstein |first4=Daniel I. |date=2021-07-01 |title=Increased vigilance of plains zebras (Equus quagga) in response to more bush coverage in a Kenyan savanna |journal=Climate Change Ecology |volume=1 |pages=100001 |doi=10.1016/j.ecochg.2021.100001 |issn=2666-9005|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021CCEco...100001C }}</ref> Plains zebra are listed as [[near threatened]] by the [[IUCN]] as of 2016. The species population is stable and not endangered, though populations in most countries have declined sharply.<ref>{{Cite report |url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41013/0 |title=Equus quagga: King, S.R.B. & Moehlman, P.D.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41013A45172424 |last=IUCN |date=2016-06-20 |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-2.rlts.t41013a45172424.en |language=en}}</ref>