Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Zebra Horse

This is a photo of a zebra + horse hybrid (Zorse). Pretty, yes?
But what do you do if you want a zebra but can't afford one?

You paint one! Really.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Gaza-City/photo//091008/ids_photos_wl/r3701093995.jpg/



Another zebra hybrid, this one of a zebra + donkey (Zonkey).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zeedonk_800.jpg


This photo is zebra + horse (Zorse), like the top photo. The animal looks different if the zebra is crossed with a horse instead of a donkey.

Look at this foal!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zero_Spots.jpg

Zorse -This ones name is Carly - note the rich color from the horse parent.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carly.jpg

Zonkey? actually, this one is called a Hebra, which would imply that the father was the horse, and the mother the Zebra, rather than dad being the zebra and mom being the horse. (Some GUY decided that the male parent should have the begining of the hybrid name, and the female parent should be on the hind end of the name.)

It makes a difference. Some traits seem to expresss from the father's side and some from the mother's side.

But, it is easier to call them all "zebroids" which is used to mean, a zebra mixed with something else. But technically, that should be "zebrids", because they actually have zebra in them, while "zebroids" really means that they are like zebras but are not. We could be safer and just say "zebra hybrids" instead of trying to use quazi Latin, and getting it wrong.

Whatever, the photo below looks more like a donkey than a zebra to me.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hebra_at_Colchester_Zoo.jpg

This zonkey looks more like the zebra.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_zonky.jpg

Semi wild looking zonkey in Africa. Looks proud and happy.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zonkey.jpg

Zorse - Puch. Note the brown background with the striped legs, this seem to be a theme in zebra hybrids.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZorsePuch.jpg

I think hybrids are the most facinating study. They're so unique and yet, you can often tell just be looking at them what their parents are.

POST photos source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zebroid.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zorse.gif