Zebra Subspecies

There are three extant (still living) species of zebras. Among those species, there are 8 subspecies, one of which is extinct.

Genus: Equus

-Subgenus: Hippotigris

-Plains Zebra, Equus quagga

-Quagga, Equus quagga quagga (extinct)

-Burchell's Zebra, Eguus quagga burchellii

-Grant's Zebra, Equus quagga boehmi

-Selous' Zebra, Equus quagga borensis

-Chapman's Zebra, Equus quagga chapmani

-Crawshay's Zebra, Equus quagga crawshayi

-Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra

-Cape Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra zebra

-Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra hartmannae

-Subgenus: Dolichohippus

-Grevy's Zebra, Equus grevyi

The plains zebra is the most common, and has about twelve subspecies distributed across much of southern and eastern Africa. Grevy's zebra is the rarest species, and is classified as endangered. Although zebra species may have overlapping ranges, they do not interbreed. In captivity, crosses between zebras and other equines have produced several distinct hybrids, including the zebroid, zeedonk, zony, and zorse.

1. What are the typical physical attributes of a zebra? What are the purposes of the stripes?

2. Classify the zebra for each of the following:

Kingdom:

Phylum:

Class:

Order:

Family:

Genus:

Subgenus:

Classifying Living Things-Discovery

Search the Internet for taxonomic classifications of recently discovered species. What was the basis for classifying them? Who gets to name a new species? Is there any check on irresponsible naming?

http://101science.com/Taxonomy.htm
Classifying

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94886658-Naming

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/01/photogalleries/100120-new-species-pictures-ecuador-snake-frog-gecko/
Newly Discovered Species

1. Find three species that were recently discovered. Classify one of them.

Classifying Living Things - Extinction

The fossil record shows that about four millions years ago the vast majority of species that

have existed are now extinct. In order for an animal to be classified as extinct, it must not have been seen in the past 50 years. Background (natural) extinction refers to the naturally occurring extinction of a species. If a species can not succeed in adapting to its surroundings it eventually becomes extinct. In mass extinctions, large numbers of species become extinct each year for tens of thousands to millions of years. Each species will have different reasons for becoming extinct; these may include lack of food, climate change, diseases/epidemics, etc.

1. How many mass extinctions have taken place in the past 500 million years? What were two of these species, (besides dinosaurs)?

2. Take two of these species and classify them using today's classifications.

3. Give two ways that humans unintentionally contribute to extinctions.