my favorite animal is a zebra.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Zebras ( or ) are several species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white striped coats. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and donkeys, zebras have never been truly domesticated. There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the mountain zebra and the Gr\u00e9vy's zebra. The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus \"Hippotigris\", but Gr\u00e9vy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus \"Dolichohippus\". The latter resembles an ass, to which zebras are closely related, while the former two look more horse-like. All three belong to the genus \"Equus\", along with other living equids. The unique stripes of zebras make them one of the animals most familiar to people. They occur in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills. However, various anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction. Gr\u00e9vy's zebra and the mountain zebra are endangered. While plains zebras are much more plentiful, one subspecies, the quagga, became extinct in the late 19th century \u2013 though there is currently a plan, called the Quagga Project, that aims to breed zebras that are phenotypically similar to the quagga in a process called breeding back.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "Our local zoo is about to acquire two new zebras.  They are so beautiful!"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "They are beautiful animals! I think it's amazing that no two zebras have the same stripes. They all have different patterns!"}, {"role": "user", "content": "Yes, and it's also surprising that they have a breed called quaggas that became extinct in the 19th century."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "That is surprising! All zebras belong to the genus \"Equus\" which is a close relative to donkeys and horses. I'd love to visit your zoo to see the zebras!"}, {"role": "user", "content": "Please do!  We are in Nashville.  Are zebras white stripes on a black background or vice versa?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "That's a great question, but I don't think they've ever quite figured it out! I think it's so cute that zebras are social animals. In the wild, they live in herds! I always assumed they were loners."}, {"role": "user", "content": "I secretly think that few animals are loners and that humans fail to recognize the deep types of social interactions that exist in other species.  Just my opinion!"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I totally agree with you! People could learn from zebras. After all, because of their unique stripes, they are one of the animals most familiar to people! We have more in common than we'd think!"}]