Kingdom Animalia

• All creatures that eat and digest food and are made of many types of cells and tissues fall into the animal kingdom. It is easy to see why a zebra classification starts with the animal kingdom.
  
  

Phylum Chordata

• This next level of scientific classification incorporates all animals that have a notochord (embryonic cord structure that supports the body), skeletal system and organs. Zebras have all of these. Zebras are also included in the subphylum Vertebrata as their notochord is replaced by a backbone as they develop in the womb.
  
  

Class Mammalia

• With fur, the ability to produce milk and live birthing, zebras are clearly mammals. Another feature unique to mammals that zebras have is three middle ear bones.
  
  

Order Perissodactyla

• This order groups hoof-stock animals that are odd toed; they either have one or three toes on the hind feet. Zebras have one toe on all four feet on which they walk.
  
  

Family Equidae, Genus Equus

• All horses, donkeys and zebras belong to this family and all also belong to its only genus: Equus. Features of this family include a mane, large skulls and bodies and elongated noses.
  
  

Species Differences

• Mountain zebras are white with black stripes and have a dewlap at the neck. Burchell’s zebras have light tan stripes in between the black stripes that are thinner at the front and thicker towards the back of the zebra. Grevy’s zebras, also with only black stripes, have the thickest neck of the three zebras.