Yes, a zebra and a horse can mate. While not as common as mating within their own species, interspecies breeding between zebras and horses is possible.
Understanding Zebra-Horse Hybrids
When a zebra and a horse mate, they produce hybrid offspring known by several names. These hybrids inherit traits from both parents, often exhibiting the body shape of a horse but with distinctive zebra stripes, typically more pronounced on the legs, neck, and hindquarters.
What are the Offspring Called?
The name given to the hybrid offspring depends on which parent is the zebra and which is the horse. According to the reference:
- A zorse is the offspring of a zebra stallion and a horse mare. This cross is also called a zebrose, zebrula, zebrule, or zebra mule.
- The rarer reverse pairing is sometimes called a hebra, horsebra, zebrinny, or zebra hinny.
Here's a simple breakdown:
| Zebra Parent | Horse Parent | Offspring Names |
|---|---|---|
| Stallion | Mare | Zorse, Zebrose, Zebrula, Zebrule, Zebra Mule |
| Mare | Stallion | Hebra, Horsebra, Zebrinny, Zebra Hinny |
Are Zebra-Horse Hybrids Fertile?
Like most other animal hybrids, the zorse is sterile. This means that while a zebra and a horse can mate and produce offspring, these hybrid offspring (like the zorse, hebra, etc.) are typically unable to reproduce themselves. This sterility is a common characteristic of hybrids from different species, often due to the differing number of chromosomes between the parent species (horses have 64 chromosomes, while different zebra species have varying numbers, usually between 32 and 46).
In conclusion, zebras and horses belong to the same genus, Equus, which allows for successful mating and the creation of hybrid offspring, though these hybrids are generally sterile.
