A zebra crossing is a road crossing for pedestrians, identified by studs and alternating black and white stripes on the carriageway and lighted yellow globes (normally flashing) at each end. Pedestrians take precedence over vehicles on crossings uncontrolled by police or traffic wardens, and it is an offence for vehicles to wait or overtake within their limits. Research Zebra Crossing
Burchell's Zebra (Hippotigris quagga) is a species of zebra found throughout a large region of eastern and southern Africa. There are five sub-species of the Burchell's zebra, but all have a medium-sized head, short broad neck, rounded body and small erect ears. The Burchell's zebra has a white belly and white legs, and brownish stripes. Research Burchell's Zebra
The dauw or peechi (Equus Burcheli) is a species of zebra found in the plains of South Africa north of the Orange River. Its general colour is a pale brown, with greyish-white on the abdomen and inner parts of the limbs. Its head, neck, and body, and the upper parts of its limbs are striped like the zebra, but the stripes are not so dark in colour. Research Dauw
Grevy's zebra (Hippotigris grevyi) is a species of zebra found in small isolated areas of north-east Africa. It is recognisable from the other zebra species by the long ears and long narrow head. Typically they have narrow and closely spaced black and white stripes and a white belly. Research Grevy's Zebra
A hybrid is the product of a femal animal or plant which has been impregnated by a male of a different but nearly allied species or genus. Uncertainty prevails respecting the productive crossing of species, but it seems to be established that while the crossing of different genera may result in offspring, that of different orders will not.
Hybrids are obtained amongst fishes from different Species of carp; amongst birds, from the goldfinch and canary, the swan and the goose, etc; amongst mammals, from the horse and the zebra, the horse and the ass, the produce of the last two being the mule proper; from the lion and tiger, the dog and wolf, the dog and fox, the goat and ibex.
Instances of hybrids between animals of different genera have been furnished by the union of the goat and the antelope, and of the stag and the cow. It used formerly to be considered that the propagative power of hybrids was either absolutely null, or that they propagated only with an individual of the pure breed; but the experiments of Charles Darwin and other 10th century researches showed that although infertility to some degree generally attends sexual intercourse between different species, yet in such intercourse every degree of difference from absolute sterility up to complete fertility is found. The results hitherto obtained may be summarized as follows: The crossing of species of different families is in almost every case infertile; allied species are capable of producing offspring, and this capability is in indefinite ratio to the degree of their likeness; hybrids are frequently fertile with their parents, but more rarely among themselves; there is no fixed relation between the degree of fertility manifested by the parent species when crossed and that which is manifested by their hybrid progeny.
In many cases two pure species can be crossed with unusual facility, while the resulting hybrids are remarkably sterile; and, on the other hand, there are species which can only be crossed with extreme difficulty, though the hybrids when produced are very fertile. Research Hybrid
The Hyena is an African carnivore, of the family Hyaenidae. It has a large head and neck, long, well-developed forelegs, and powerful jaws and premolars adapted for crushing bones. Each foot has four toes with non-retractable claws, well suited for running on the open plains where hyenas feed on hoofed animals. Of the three hyena species, the best known is the spotted, or laughing, hyena (Crocuta crocuta) , the only member of its genus. Ranging south of the Sahara, it is the largest and most robust of the hyenas, with a length of 1.8 m and a height of 90 centimetres at the shoulder. Adults are brown-grey with dark brown or black spots. Named for their cry, which has been compared to hysterical human laughter, they also emit a striking howl that rises in pitch. Spotted hyenas were long thought to be only scavengers (warring African tribes abandoned their dead to the animal). Recently, hyenas have been found to be among the chief predators of herbivores, especially zebra and wildebeest.
The hyenas attack in packs at night, ripping open the flanks of their prey and carrying off the carcasses. Hyenas associate in clans cantered around communal dens occupied by batches of young at varying stages of growth. Females conceive throughout the year, giving birth after 110 days to one or two cubs, which dig their own tunnels. Pair bonding is not evident; the female, larger than the male, selects her mating partners. The female sexual organs have an external resemblance to the male's, a phenomenon probably related to scent identification, which plays a large part when clan members encounter one another.
A clan may consist of ten or twelve females, twenty cubs, and a number of males on the fringe; hyenas are very territorial. Little is known about the genus Hyaena , which comprises the striped hyena, Hyaena Hyaena , and the brown hyena, Hyena brunnea. Both bear manes of coarse, erectile hair and are smaller and far less aggressive than the spotted hyena. The striped hyena, grey-tan with vertical stripes, ranges from East Africa north into Asia. It is largely a scavenger, often eating vulture-picked bones. The brown hyena, found in southern Africa, is dark brown with a grey head and striped legs. It feeds mainly on fish and crabs. Research Hyena
The Kiger Mustang is a North American breed of horse of Spanish descent from the Beaty Butte region in Lake County, Oregon. They are uniformly of a dun colouration, ranging from brown-dun to nearly white with dorsal stripes and zebra striped legs. Research Kiger Mustang
The mountain zebra (Hippotigris zebra) is a species of zebra found in small isolated areas of south west Africa. It has a large head, broad neck, small dewlap ears of medium length, a short erect mane and a tail with a well-developed tuft reaching below the hocks. It can be recognised from other species of zebra by the broader, and more narrowly spaced black rump stripes. Research Mountain Zebra
The Norwegian Fjord Pony is an ancient breed of pony from Norway, formerly used by the Vikings who took them overseas. The Norwegian Fjord Pony is a good natured pony standing 13 to 14 hands high, dun in colour with dark dorsal and zebra stripes and an upright tow-tone mane. Research Norwegian Fjord Pony
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Zebra Crossing
