Social Behaviour of African Equidae

Abstract

Two basically different forms of social organisation have been discovered in the equids. Type one is represented by the plains zebra, Equus quagga, and by the mountain zebra, E. zebra, who live in non-territorial and coherent family groups and stallion groups. The young leave their original families in a set pattern. Type two comprises Grevy's zebra, E. grevyi, and the wild ass, E. africanus, species with stallions keeping large territories which they defend under certain conditions against their neighbours. There is no evidence for the existence of personal bonds between any two or more adults.