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1 February 2006 VARIATION IN INCIDENCE OF MALE INFANTICIDE WITHIN SUBSPECIES OF PLAINS ZEBRA (EQUUS BURCHELLI)
Jan Pluháček, Luděk Bartoš, Jitka Víchová
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Abstract

Social organization seems to determine the occurrence of male infanticide in equids. Although, no information concerning social organization of the maneless zebra (Equus burchelli borensis) has been available, we presumed that the occurrence of infanticide would be the same across all subspecies of plains zebra. We examined the occurrence of this phenomenon in 9 herds of 4 subspecies: the maneless zebra, Grant's zebra (E. burchelli boehmi), Chapmann's zebra (E. b. chapmanni), and the Damara zebra (E. b. antiquorum) at 4 zoos. The probability of a foal's death was affected by the presence of a new male and subspecies. Except for the maneless zebra, all subspecies showed existence of male infanticide. We found no occurrence of male infanticide in maneless zebras, which suggests a different social system. This would also support the subspecific status of the maneless zebra.

Jan Pluháček, Luděk Bartoš, and Jitka Víchová "VARIATION IN INCIDENCE OF MALE INFANTICIDE WITHIN SUBSPECIES OF PLAINS ZEBRA (EQUUS BURCHELLI)," Journal of Mammalogy 87(1), 35-40, (1 February 2006). https://doi.org/10.1644/05-MAMM-A-126R2.1
Accepted: 1 July 2005; Published: 1 February 2006
KEYWORDS
Equus burchelli
infant mortality
infanticide
maneless zebra
subspecies
zoo
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