Live Quagga in Zoo, London, 1870

Live Quagga in Zoo, London, 1870

Quagga (Equus quagga quagga) is an extinct subspecies of the plains zebra that lived in South Africa until the nineteenth century. This mare, the only living quagga ever photographed, lived in Regent's Park Zoo in London and was photographed in 1870. The quagga was long thought to be a distinct species, but genetic studies have shown it to be the southernmost subspecies of the plains zebra. It is considered particularly close to Burchell's zebra. Its name is derived from its call, which sounds like "kwa-ha-ha". The last captive specimen died in Amsterdam on 12 August 1883. In 1984, the quagga was the first extinct animal to have its DNA analysed, and the Quagga Project is trying to recreate the phenotype of hair coat pattern and related characteristics by selectively breeding Burchell's zebras.

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