A LITTLE WILDLIFE PERSPECTIVE
How tall is a plains zebra?
Compare your height to a plains zebra.
A plains zebra can reach about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) at the shoulder. The ears and head stand above that point.
A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE
Plains zebra
next to the average.
Average U.S. adults, side by side.
- Average man (U.S.)5 ft 8.9 in
- Plains zebra6 ft 2.8 in
- Average woman (U.S.)5 ft 3.5 in
How do you measure up?
Enter your height to stand beside a plains zebra.
Side by side
- Plains zebra6 ft 2.8 in
- Your placeAdd your height
The animal is an example adult in the pose shown. Its full outline is scaled to 190 cm. Shoulder height and body length are explained below.
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GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL
Small facts. Big discoveries.
Plains zebra · Equus quagga
Plains zebras are members of the horse family. They spend much of their day grazing and stay close to other zebras, which helps the group watch for danger.
Plains zebras can move into tall grass before other grazers, shortening and trampling it as they feed. Wildebeest and gazelles may follow into the resulting shorter pasture, making a zebra herd part of a wider pattern of animals using the same grassland in different ways.
- Every zebra has its own stripe pattern.
- A family group usually contains a stallion, several mares, and their young.
How big do adults get?
- Male
- Mpala reference: 222–284 kg
- Female
- Mpala reference: 175–242 kg
These are adult plains zebra weight ranges from Mpala’s field guide. Maryland Zoo gives up to 1.5 m at the shoulder; size varies between populations.
Height, length, or weight?
Standing height runs from the ground to the top of the animal. Shoulder height stops at the top of the shoulders. Length runs along the body; it is not how tall an animal stands. Weight tells us how heavy it is.
Explore the science: The Maryland Zoo · plains zebra ↗ · Mpala Research Centre · field guide ↗