Examples of animals such as zebras include horses, donkeys, rhinos, and tapirs.
Their black and white stripes make them stand out in any setting and are often used as symbols of purity and elegance.
However, zebras are not the only animals with these distinctive markings.
There are a number of other creatures that share this pattern, leading to their own nicknames such as “zebroid” or “zorse”.
Zebras are ungulates and therefore belong to the order Perissodactyla.
There are three families present in this order: Equidae (horses, donkeys, and zebras), Rhinocerotidae (rhinos) and Tapiridae (tapirs).
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of these animals and explore the similarities and differences between them and zebras.
Examples of Animals Like Zebra
Examples of Animals Like Zebra
Scientific NameTapirus bairdiiAnimal SpeciesMammalPassageForests and wetlands from Mexico to Colombia
Baird’s tapir is a large herbivorous mammal that can be found in Central and South America.
It is the largest land animal in its range and is characterized by its black and white striped back.
This Tapir is an endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting.
2. Black Rhino
2. Black Rhino
Scientific NameDiceros bicornisAnimalTypeMammal RangeNamibia, Kenya, and South Africa
The black rhino is a large mammal native to Africa.
Like the zebra, it has a number of distinctive features such as size, color and antlers.
However, there are some important differences between these two animals.
For one, black rhinos are actually gray in color and get their namesake hue from the mud and dust in which they roll.
Scientific NameEquus asinusAnimalSpeciesMammal RangeSouthwestern North America, South and Central America, Spain
The Burro donkey is a hybrid of a domestic donkey and a zebra.
This animal has the body of a donkey but the stripes of a zebra.
The Burro donkey is found in the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
4. Giant Tapir
4. Giant Tapir
Scientific NameTapirus augustusAnimal SpeciesMammal Highlands, with reports suggesting it lives in southern China, Vietnam, and Laos, as well as Taiwan, Java, and potentially Borneo
The giant tapir is the largest member of the tapir family.
It is found in the tropical forests of South America, where it feeds on leaves, fruits and aquatic plants.
Like zebras, giant tapirs have stripes that are thought to help them adapt to their environment and avoid predators.
However, their stripes are much less pronounced and they are usually brown or reddish in color.
Giant tapirs are also much larger than zebras, weighing up to 800 kg (1760 lb).
They are the size of a small horse and have a long snout used to grasp leaves and fruits.
The giant tapir survived in China until about 4000 years ago.
Scientific NameEquus asinus x Equus caballusAnimalTypeMammalRangeWorldwide
Hinny is a hybrid animal obtained by mating a male horse with a female donkey.
Like the mule (the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse), bardos are sterile.
Bardos tend to be smaller than horses and have the proportions of donkeys, with their heads more similar to those of horses.
Their coat is usually darker than a horse’s, and they often have shorter and less full manes and tails.
Scientific NameEquus caballusAnimalTypeMammal RangeWorldwide
Horses are the largest and most common of the three families in the Perissodactyla.
The vast majority of horse breeds have solid colored fur, but there are a few that exhibit striped patterns similar to zebras.
Horses are herbivores that mostly eat grass and other plants.
They are social animals that live in herds and have a strict hierarchy, with a mare at the top.
Horses are intelligent creatures that can learn various tasks and tricks.
Related Article: 4 Animals Like Horses
7. Indian Rhinoceros
7. Indian Rhinoceros
Scientific NameRhinoceros unicornisAnimalTypeMammal RangeAssam province of India
The Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal that once roamed most of Asia.
Like zebras, Indian rhinos have a number of unique physical characteristics.
Indian rhinos are also the closest living relatives of the extinct woolly rhinoceros.
As the name suggests, the Indian rhino has a single horn made of keratin (the same protein that makes up human hair and nails).
The Indian rhino is grayish-brown in color and has several folds in its skin that give it a wrinkled appearance.
These folds help protect the animal from thorns and biting insects.
The Javanese rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is a one-horned rhino that was once found in Southeast Asia.
Today, however, it is considered one of the world’s most endangered animals, with about 60 individuals remaining in the wild.
Like zebras, Javanese rhinos are single-toed ungulates.
However, there are some notable differences between these two animals.
For starters, Javan rhinos lack the stripes that zebras are so famous for.
Instead, their skin is covered with a thick layer of gray or reddish-brown hair.
They also have a single horn on their heads, while zebras do not have any.
Scientific NameTapirus indicusAnimal SpeciesMammalRangethe Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
The Malayan tapir is the largest of the four tapir species and can be found in the forests of Southeast Asia.
These animals are characterized by their black fur, often decorated with white dots or stripes.
Although their color is similar to that of a zebra, tapirs lack the zebra’s distinctive patterns.
Scientific NameEquus asinusAnimalTypeMammal RangeAdrian, Michigan
The mammoth donkey is a large member of the donkey family.
It is native to North America and is one of the largest donkeys in the world.
The mammoth donkey is black and has white stripes on its legs and abdomen.
It also has black fur on its head, neck and back.
The mammoth donkey is a hardy animal that can live in a variety of environments.
It is a well-working animal and is often used for farming or shipping.
Donkeys are related to horses and zebras.
Donkeys are generally smaller than horses and have long ears.
Scientific NameEquus asinusAnimal SpeciesMammalRangeMediterranean islands Sicily and Sardinia
Miniature donkeys are native to the Mediterranean island of Sicily, but can now be found in other parts of the world, including the United States.
Scientific NameTapirus pinchaqueAnimal SpeciesMammal RangeColombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru
The mountain tapir is the largest of the four tapir species and can be found in the Andes of South America.
These animals are mostly black or dark brown with a white “saddle” on their back.
They have short fur and long snouts and are adept swimmers.
Mountain tapirs are herbivores and feed mostly on leaves, fruits and stems.
Scientific NameOkapia johnstoniAnimal SpeciesMammalRangethe Democratic Republic of the Congo
The okapi is a member of the Equidae family, making it a close relative of horses and zebras.
These two animals share many similarities, including their long necks, dark spots on their fur, and striped legs.
The biggest difference between zebras and okapi is their habitat.
Zebras are found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert, while okapis are restricted to a small region in Central Africa.
Okapis are also much smaller than zebras, with an average height of about 1.5 m.
Scientific NameEquus asinusAnimalTypeMammal RangeFrance
The Poitou donkey is a French Donkey that is easily distinguished by its shaggy fur and long, slender legs.
They are one of the largest donkey breeds in the world and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (450 kg).
Poitou donkeys are believed to be the ancestors of the American Mammoth Jackstock, which was developed in the United States in the 19th century.
These donkeys were bred for their size and strength and were used for a variety of purposes, including farm work and logging.
South American Tapir
South American Tapir
Scientific NameTapirus terrestrisAnimal SpeciesMammalSpring AreaIncluding North-Central Colombia and eastern Andes and most of tropical South America
The South American tapir, also known as the Brazilian tapir, is a type of tapir found in the Amazon Basin of South America.
As its name suggests, it is the largest of the four tapir species and can grow up to 8 feet long and 3 feet high at the shoulder.
South American tapirs are brown or black in color with white markings on their face, neck and legs.
They have a long snout used for smelling food, and their ears are large and rounded.
These animals are found in Indonesia and Malaysia, where they live in rainforests, swamps, and cloud forests.
The Sumatran rhino is similar to other rhinos in that it has a large body, thick skin, and one horn.
However, it is distinguished by its much smaller size and numerous folds and wrinkles on its skin.
Its fur is also shorter and denser than other rhinos.
Scientific NameTapirus kabomaniAnimal SpeciesMammalRangeAmazon rainforest
Tapirus kabomani, also known as Brazilian tapir, is a type of tapir found in the Amazon rainforest.
It is the smallest of all tapirs and its fur is dark brown or black with white markings on its face and legs.
Like zebras, tapirs are one-toed ungulates.
They are herbivores that eat a variety of plants and have a long snout that they use to sniff out food.
white rhino
white rhino
Scientific NameCeratotherium simumAnimalTypeMammal RangeSouth Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya
The white rhino is the largest and most common of the three rhino species.
Most of the world’s white rhinos are found in South Africa, with smaller populations in Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Kenya.
White rhinos are grazers and prefer to eat grass, leaves and twigs.
They are generally calm animals and live in herds of up to 25 individuals.
The white rhino is the most social of the three rhino species and is often seen in pairs or small groups.
Woolly Rhino
Scientific NameCoelodonta antiquitatisAnimal SpeciesMammalSpring AreaEurope, North Africa, and Asia
The woolly rhino is an extinct species that was once found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
As the name suggests, the woolly rhino was covered in thick fur.
This helped the animal stay warm in its cold, northern habitat.
The fur also served as camouflage, helping the woolly rhino to blend in with the snowy environment.
The woolly rhino was a large animal measuring up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long at the shoulder and weighing up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms).
Also Read: 19 Animals Like Zebras
Zebras are one of the most easily recognized animals in the world.
Zebras are one of the most easily recognized animals in the world.
Their black and white stripes make them distinct from a distance and make it difficult for predators to sneak up on them.
Although there are many animals that share colors similar to zebras, these 19 animals are most likely to be confused with zebras.
While living in South Africa I had the pleasure of seeing many of these animals up close and personal.