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.

With the exception of a few small populations, equids live in areas where their food and water supplies change with the seasons. In the territorial species the females emigrate when living conditions deteriorate, whereas the territorial stallions stay behind until living conditions become critical. Thus there is a segregation of the sexes for part of the year, a factor which will certainly influence the reproductive rate. The non-territorial species, by contrast, can reproduce throughout the year.

The evolution of equine sociology is discussed.