The name "zebra" in English dates back to c. 1600, from Italian zebra, perhaps from Portuguese, which in turn is said to be Congolese (as stated in the Oxford English Dictionary). The Encarta Dictionary says its ultimate origin is uncertain, but perhaps it may come from Latin 'equiferus' meaning "wild horse"; from 'equus' ("horse") and 'ferus' ("wild, untamed"). A group of zebras are referred to as a herd, dazzle, or zeal.

Zebras are several species of African 'equids' (horse family) united by their distinctive black-and-white striped coats. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds, or 'dazzles'. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and donkeys, zebras have never been truly domesticated.

The unique stripes of zebras make them one of the animals most familiar to people. They occur in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills. Various anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular, hunting for skins and habitat destruction.

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