What is the social structure of the plains zebra?
Plains zebras are arguably the most recognizable as well as the most numerous African grazing animals. The plains zebra also exhibits a complex social structure and is the only zebra species that thrives in enough numbers to avoid endangerment.Types of GroupsPlains zebras fall into two types of social groups: bachelor and harem. Bachelor groups average three male members, and harem groups average seven individuals, although they are sometimes more numerous.Bachelor GroupsBachelor groups generally consist of three single males that have no harem. These groups are marked by a lack of hierarchy, They consist of young males who have not yet found a harem as well as mature males too old to compete with the younger males.Harem GroupsBreeding groups, otherwise known as harem groups, average seven plains zebras. These groups fall into a hierarchical structure with an alpha male at the top and the most recent female addition to the group at the bottom. In these groups the alpha male has exclusi
