Examples of animals like zebras include horses, donkeys, rhinoceroses, and tapirs.
The black and white stripes make them stand out in any environment 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, giving them their own nicknames such as “zebroid” or “zorse”.
Zebras are odd-toed ungulates and therefore belong to the order Perissodactyla.
There are three extant families in this order: Equidae (horses, donkeys and zebras), Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceros) 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 such as zebras
Examples of animals such as zebras
Scientific nameTapirus bairdiiType of animalMammalRange of forests and wetlands from Mexico to Colombia
Baird’s tapir is a large herbivorous mammal 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.
The tapir is an endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting.
2. Black rhinoceros
2. Black rhinoceros
Scientific name Diceros bicornis Species Mammal Range Namibia, Kenya and South Africa
The black rhinoceros is a large mammal native to Africa.
Like the zebra, it has many distinctive characteristics, including size, coloration, and horns.
However, there are some important differences between these two animals.
First, black rhinos are actually gray, and their eponymous hue comes from the mud and dust they wallow in.
Scientific name Equus asinus Animal species Mammal Range Southwest North America, South and Central America, Spain
The burro donkey is a cross between a domestic donkey and a zebra.
This animal has the body of a donkey and 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 augustusType of animalMammalRange of southern China, Vietnam and Laos, but reports indicate that it also lived in Taiwan, Java and possibly 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 blend in with their surroundings and avoid predators.
However, their streaks are much less pronounced and are generally brown or reddish in color.
Giant tapirs are also much larger than zebras, weighing up to 800 kg (1,760 lb).
They are the size of a small horse and have a long snout that they use to grab leaves and fruit.
The giant tapir survived in China until about 4,000 years ago.
Scientific name Equus asinus x Equus caballus Animal species Mammal Range worldwide
A donkey is a hybrid animal created by breeding a male horse with a donkey.
Like mules (the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse), mules are sterile.
Hinns tend to be smaller than horses and have the proportions of donkeys, with heads more like those of horses.
Their coat is generally darker than a horse’s, and manes and tails are often shorter and less full.
Scientific name Equus caballus Animal species Mammal Range worldwide
Horses are the largest and most widespread of the three families within Perissodactyla.
The vast majority of horse breeds have a solid coat, but a few have zebra-like striped patterns.
Horses are herbivores that feed mainly on grasses and other plants.
They are social animals that live in herds and have a strict hierarchy, with the leading 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 name Rhinoceros unicornis Animal species Mammal Range Indian state Assam
The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal that once roamed much 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 rhinoceros has a single horn that is made of keratin (the same protein that makes up human hair and nails).
The Indian rhinoceros is grayish-brown in color and has many folds on its skin that give it a wrinkled appearance.
These folds help protect the animal from thorns and insects.
The Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is a one-horned rhinoceros that was once found throughout Southeast Asia.
Today, however, it is considered one of the most endangered animals in the world, as only about 60 individuals remain in the wild.
Like zebras, Javan rhinos are odd-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 hair that is gray or reddish brown in color.
They also have one horn on their head, while zebras don’t.
Scientific nameTapirus indicus Animal species Mammal Range Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
The Malayan tapir is the largest of the four tapir species and can be found in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
These animals are characterized by black fur, which is often decorated with white spots or stripes.
While their coloring may resemble that of a zebra, tapirs lack the latter’s characteristic pattern.
Scientific Name Equus asinus Animal Species Mammal Range Adrian, Michigan
The mammoth 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 in color with white stripes on its legs and belly.
He also has black hair on his head, neck and back.
The mammoth donkey is a hardy animal that can live in a variety of environments.
It is a good working animal and is often used for farming or transport.
Donkeys are related to horses and zebras.
Donkeys are usually smaller than horses and have long ears.
Scientific name Equus asinus Type of animal Mammal Range Mediterranean 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 pinchaque Animal species Mammal Range Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru
The mountain tapir is the largest of the four tapir species and can be found in the Andes Mountains of South America.
These animals are mostly black or dark brown in color, with a white “saddle” on the back.
They have short fur and long snouts and are good swimmers.
Mountain tapirs are herbivores and mainly feed on leaves, fruits and stems.
Scientific nameOkapia johnstoniType of animalRange of mammalDemocratic Republic of Congo
The okapi is a member of the ungulate family, making it a close relative of the horse and zebra.
The two animals share many similarities, including a long neck, dark spots on their fur, and striped legs.
The biggest difference between zebras and okapis 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 5 feet (1.5 m).
Scientific nameEquus asinusType of animalMammalRangeFrance
The Poitou donkey is a French donkey that can be easily distinguished by its shaggy coat and long, thin legs.
It is 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 Jackstock mammoth, 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 terrestrisType of animalMammalRangeNorth-central Colombia and east of the Andes and includes most of tropical South America
The South American tapir, also known as the Brazilian tapir, is a species of tapir that lives 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 tall at the shoulder.
South American tapirs are brown or black in color with white spots on the face, neck and legs.
They have a long snout that is used for sniffing food, and their ears are large and round.
These animals are found in Indonesia and Malaysia, where they inhabit rainforests, swamps and cloud forests.
The Sumatran rhinoceros is similar to other rhinoceroses in that it has a large body, thick skin, and one horn.
However, it is characterized by a much smaller size and many wrinkles and folds in the skin.
Its fur is also shorter and thicker than that of other rhinos.
Scientific nameTapirus kabomani Animal species Mammal Range Amazon rainforest
Tapirus kabomani, also known as the Brazilian tapir, is a species of tapir that grows in the Amazon rainforest.
It is the smallest of all tapirs, its fur is dark brown or black with white spots on the face and legs.
Like zebras, tapirs are odd-toed ungulates.
They are herbivores that feed on a variety of plants and have a long snout that they use to sniff out food.
White rhinoceros
White rhinoceros
Scientific nameCeratotherium simumType of animal MammalRange South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya
The white rhinoceros is the largest of the three species of rhinoceros and is the most widespread.
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 peaceful 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 rhinoceros
Scientific name Coelodonta antiquitatis Animal type Mammal Range Europe, North Africa and Asia
The woolly rhinoceros is an extinct species that was once found in Europe, Asia and North America.
As the name suggests, the woolly rhinoceros was covered with thick fur.
This helped keep the animal warm in its cold, northern habitat.
The fur also served as camouflage, helping the woolly rhinoceros to blend in with its snowy surroundings.
The woolly rhinoceros was a large animal, measuring up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) 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 recognizable animals in the world.
Zebras are one of the most easily recognizable animals in the world.
Due to their black and white stripes, they stand out from afar, which makes it difficult for predators to sneak up on them.
Although there are many animals that have similar coloring to zebras, these 19 animals are the most likely to be mistaken for zebras.
Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.