Predators differ by their body size, sociality, and hunting mode. Altogether, these characteristics shape how dangerous they are and the nature and strength of their prey responses. 

We compared the antipredator response of plains zebras (Equus quagga) to encounters with two predators of contrasting dangerousness: lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta). We expected lions to be more dangerous because of their size and ambush hunting strategies compared to the smaller and cursorial hyaenas.

We found that zebras responded more strongly to lions than to hyaenas. Indeed, zebras were twice more likely to flee after an encounter with a lion than a hyaena, and, immediately after an encounter with a lion, zebras moved on average faster and further than after an encounter with a hyaena.