How does the social structure of the Grévy's zebra contrast with the stable harems of the Plains zebra?
Answer
Males are territorial while females roam across these territories
The social organization of the Grévy's zebra is significantly less fixed than that of the Plains zebra. Plains zebras form stable harems founded by a single dominant stallion who defends a cohesive group of mares and their offspring. In contrast, the Grévy's zebra exhibits a structure where males establish and defend specific territories, but the females are nomadic and move freely across the territories defended by multiple males. This results in much looser social bonds and a less predictable grouping dynamic, ensuring a broader potential gene pool but lacking the predictable family unit characteristic of the Plains zebra.
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