Editing Zebra (section)

===Social behaviour===
{{See also|Horse behaviour}}
[[File:Zebra Botswana edit02.jpg|thumb|upright|A plains zebra group |alt=A group of six plains zebra]]
Zebra species have two basic social structures. Plains and mountain zebras live in stable, closed family groups or [[Harem (zoology)|harems]] consisting of one [[stallion]], several [[mares]], and their offspring. These groups have their own [[home ranges]], which overlap, and they tend to be nomadic. Stallions form and expand their harems by herding young mares away from their birth harems. The stability of the group remains even when the family stallion is displaced. Plains zebras groups gather into large herds and may create temporarily stable subgroups within a herd, allowing individuals to interact with those outside their group. Females in harems can spend more time feeding, and gain protection both for them and their young. They have a linear [[Dominance (ethology)|dominance hierarchy]] with the high-ranking females having lived in the group longest. While traveling, the most dominant females and their offspring lead the group, followed by the next most dominant; the family stallion trails behind. Young of both sexes leave their natal groups as they mature; females are usually herded by outside males to become part of their harems.<ref name="MacDonald" /><ref name="Estes 1991" /><ref name="Rubenstein 1986"/>

In the more arid-living Grévy's zebras, adults have more fluid associations and adult males establish large [[Territory (animal)|territories]], marked by dung piles, and mate with the females that enter them.<ref name="Estes 1991" /><ref name="MacDonald" /> Grazing and drinking areas tend to be separated in these environments and the most dominant males establish territories near watering holes, which attract females with dependent foals and those who simply want a drink, while less dominant males control territories away from water with more vegetation, and only attract mares without foals.<ref name="Rubenstein 2010"/> Mares may travel through several territories but remain in one when they have young. Staying in a territory offers a female protection from harassment by outside males, as well as access to resources.<ref name="Rubenstein 1986">{{cite book |last=Rubenstein|first= D. I. |year=1986 |url=http://www.princeton.edu/~dir/pdf_dir/1986_Rubenstein_bookChapt.pdf |contribution=Ecology and sociality in horses and zebras |pages=282–302 |title=Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution |editor=Rubenstein|editor-first= D. I.|editor2= Wrangham|editor-first2= R. W. |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-0-691-08439-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sundaresan|first1=S. R.|last2=Fischhoff|first2=I. R.|last3=Rubenstein|first3=D.|year=2007|title= Male harassment influences female movements and associations in Grevy's zebra (''Equus grevyi'')|journal= Behavioral Ecology|volume= 18|issue= 5|pages= 860–65|doi= 10.1093/beheco/arm055 |url= http://www.princeton.edu/~equids/images/sundaresan_grevys_harassment.pdf|doi-access=free}}</ref>
[[File:Grevy's zebra group.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Three Grévy's zebras grazing |Group of Grévy's zebras grazing]]
In all species, excess males gather in [[bachelor herd|bachelor group]]s. These are typically young males that are not yet ready to establish a harem or territory.<ref name="MacDonald" /><ref name="Estes 1991" /> With the plains zebra, the oldest males are the most dominant and group membership is stable.<ref name="Estes 1991" /> Bachelor groups tend to be at the boundaries of herds and during group movements, the bachelors follow behind or along the sides.<ref name="Skinner">{{cite book |last1=Skinner |first1=J. D. |title=The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion |year=2005 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-84418-5 |pages=541–546 |edition=3rd |last2=Chimimba |first2=C. T. |chapter=Equidae}}</ref> Mountain zebra bachelor groups may also include young females that have left their natal group early, as well as old, former harem males. A territorial Grévy's zebra stallion may allow non-territorial bachelors in their territory, however when a mare in [[oestrous]] is present the territorial stallion keeps other stallions at bay. Bachelors prepare for their future harem roles with play fights and greeting/challenge rituals, which make up most of their activities.<ref name="Estes 1991" />

Fights between males usually occur over mates and involve biting and kicking. In plains zebra, stallions fight each other over recently matured mares to bring into their group and her father will fight off other males trying to abduct her. As long as a harem stallion is healthy, he is not usually challenged. Only unhealthy stallions have their harems taken over, and even then, the new stallion slowly takes over, peacefully displacing the old one. [[Agonistic behaviour]] between male Grévy's zebras occurs at the border of their territories.<ref name="Estes 1991" />