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What do you guys know of Zebra Genetics?

http://jnferrigno.deviantart.com/art/Australia-s-Best-Kept-Secret-10344…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I ask because that creature up there, has been tormenting my head for the longest time. While I have developed a history on them in a Environmental sense, I have not approached them genetically until now. While looking up different species of Zebra, I've noticed that the Plains Zebra have the most mutations in them. I've seen zebra colors in, Black, Chocolate (not 'brown'), a Gold Cream, and a Lighter Cream. I've also observed some with brown noses, or even brown heads. And I'm on the Zebra being Agouti train now, because a number of foals are born brown, and as you watch them age you see them darken, like Sooty does to horses. So I was wondering if anyone had any color or pattern genes isolated in Zebra? Or if there were any names for suspected genes in them?

Threnody Sat, 08/14/2010 - 21:40

[quote="rabbitsfizz"]Do you know what count Onagers and the other one....what it's called, starts with an "H"!!! :BH[/quote]
Onagers are 56 chromosomes. The only wild a-ss I can think of with an H are [i]Equus hemionus[/i] which is an Onager subspecies. Onagers are also called Khulans that 'might' be where the H is coming from?
Kiangs, once thought to be a subspecies of Onager are their own species they have 54 chromosomes. ^_^

So while we are talking about it, here's a general list. I personally have looked up all of these numbers from various articles half a year ago. And yes, I actually made a list on my computer of all the chromosome counts of members of Equus I could find... :?

[b]EQUUS SPECIES[/b]
Horse - 64
Tarpan - 64
Przewalski - 66
Domestic Donkey - 62
Wild A-ss - 62
Onager/Khulan - 56
Kiang - 54
Mountain Zebra - 32
Plains Zebra (including Quagga) - 44
Grevy's Zebra - 46

[b]HYBRIDS[/b]
Mule/Hinny - 63 (rarely fertile)
Przewalski x Horse - 65 (fertile)
Plains Zebra x Grevy's Zebra - 45 (fertile)
A-ss x Onager - 59 (Article: http://openmed.nic.in/2202/01/A_case_of…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
Various Zebroids - chromosome # depends on the cross (1 recorded fertile stallion (Darwin example from before^)

rabbitsfizz Sun, 08/15/2010 - 14:27

It was the sub species I was thinking of it was named as a separate species in a Donkey/Horse book I have.
On what are the Tarpan genes being based, given that it was extinct long before DNA?
Has an Onager been crossed with a horse?
They were pretty much usurped by horses, I know.

Threnody Sun, 08/15/2010 - 15:41

Tarpan chromosomes and taxonomy are an ongoing debate. [b] The genetics of the horse[/b], by Ann T. Bowling, Anatoly Ruvinsky, give theories on Tarpans having 64 or 66. [b]The encyclopedia of historic and endangered livestock and poultry breeds[/b] by Janet Vorwald Dohner, states that there is no genetic evidence for Tarpan chromosomes. As of now it is conjecture, but assumed possible due to Tarpans possibly being the closest relative of domestic horse. After doing more research on this, I have yet to see any of the articles that state Tarpans having 64 chromosomes to link to an article that published testing from a true Tarpan genetic source.

So at this point scientists are assuming 64 is likely, but the truth is not known.
Genetic information could be taken from taxidermy mounts, like what was done with quaggas.

[b]A natural history of domesticated mammals[/b], by Juliet Clutton-Brock states that apparently Onagers were used to make mules waaaaaaayyyy back in the day. Just wondering what to call them... honagers? orses? ;-)

Edit: a friend just came up with Onagorse :P

JNFerrigno Sun, 08/15/2010 - 22:06

Didn't even notice it when Threnody posted it...there is a group of zebras which loose their manes as they age.

http://nesihonsu.deviantart.com/art/Man…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Equus…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mammalogy.org/mil_images/ima…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So interesting. It almost reminds me of the maneless male lions in some parts of Africa, except these animals are born with manes, and then loose them.

EDIT: God bless the people on DA. Check out what I just found. http://koaiu.deviantart.com/art/Coolest…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; the zebra on the right, don't they look different.

JNFerrigno Mon, 08/16/2010 - 00:00

Keep finding more awesome photos.

This is Spots 'N Stripes Zantazia when she was a foal, http://www.spotsnstripes.com/Images/Zor…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ([url=http://www.spotsnstripes.com/Zorses.htm… main page here[/url])

Now look at her as an adult: http://barbaradlivingston.photoshelter…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you take a closer look at this image: http://barbaradlivingston.photoshelter…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Check out the belly marking, and compare it to the belly markings on the Zebras posted earlier in the thread. Also note how she appears to be mealy, but it's really just the strange way that Zebra-Dun dilutes her. Really freaky cool. CM I totally see what you're talking about now.

Threnody Mon, 08/16/2010 - 00:47

[quote="JNFerrigno"]
So interesting. It almost reminds me of the maneless male lions in some parts of Africa, except these animals are born with manes, and then loose them.
[/quote]
Yah the Tsavo lions. The Tsavo maneaters were that kind, (the real life lions that the movie [b]The Ghost and The Darkeness[/b] were based off of.) Scientists have tested their remains and showed that they ate around 30-40 people. How many they killed but didn't eat is unknown but they kept trophies :? I always watched that movie and was bothered that they didn't get trained lionesses who don't have manes to portray the Tsavo brothers, it would have been more accurate, but that's a Hollywood action/horror for you... I'm weird like that.

I always found it interesting that Leopons (lion x leopard hybrids) can have manes even if they are female.

[quote="JNFerrigno"]Keep finding more awesome photos.

This is Spots 'N Stripes Zantazia when she was a foal, http://www.spotsnstripes.com/Images/Zor…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ([url=http://www.spotsnstripes.com/Zorses.htm… main page here[/url])

Now look at her as an adult: http://barbaradlivingston.photoshelter…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you take a closer look at this image: http://barbaradlivingston.photoshelter…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Check out the belly marking, and compare it to the belly markings on the Zebras posted earlier in the thread. Also note how she appears to be mealy, but it's really just the strange way that Zebra-Dun dilutes her. Really freaky cool. CM I totally see what you're talking about now.[/quote]
I love her belly markings, it looks like the bellystripe seen on some horse dun individuals, complete with the lighter "zipper" down the middle.

JNFerrigno Mon, 08/16/2010 - 01:34

o_O I'd love to see photos of that. I've never thought to stick my head far enough under there to look. LOL I'll have to do that the next time I'm on smegma duty x_x it will be a much welcomed distraction.

JNFerrigno Mon, 08/16/2010 - 09:55

[quote="CMhorses"]Zantasia is a great example of a "wild bay" zorse. Anyone know offhand what breed her mother was?[/quote]
No, just that her dam was a Red Dun. But she has to have some size to her. In the second page of the gallery with her grown up, she's MASSIVE. Or her owner is just really tiny.

Since this was originally posted for the 'Zeboo Project' I thought maybe you guys would get a kick out of this gallery: http://equus-macropus.deviantart.com/ga…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Ignore the text, I did it before I hashed out the genetics.

And if you want a real giggle at my stupidity...and the free time I've had while fighting off this damn virus, these are the genetics that I've come up with for the Zebra and Kangaroo. Thanks for you help guys. If you think something should be changed to sound better, please let me know!

http://equus-macropus.deviantart.com/bl…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Threnody Mon, 08/16/2010 - 11:22

[quote="JNFerrigno"]o_O I'd love to see photos of that. I've never thought to stick my head far enough under there to look. LOL I'll have to do that the next time I'm on smegma duty x_x it will be a much welcomed distraction.[/quote]
Lol :lol: Yah, anything to make it less unpleasant. Dun Central Station has a really good pic of a bellystripe in the grullo section. They also show leg zippers that start at the ergot and move up the leg past the chestnut. Zippers are my favorite forms of dun factor.

The Zeboos are too cute. I want to see how they'd move in an action pose. A capriole would be really easy for them! :-D