To humans, a zebra's stripes stick out like a sore thumb, so it's hard to imagine that the stripes act as camouflage. elegant wavy texture. In here, we’ve created patterns that are rarely seen. Historically the thinking was that black stripes absorb heat in the morning to warm the zebra up, while white stripes reflect more light and cool the zebras whilst grazing for hours in the direct sun. The illusion would have the added benefit to zebras of making it difficult for predators to pick out a single animal to attack. Which do you think is the most likely theory? A theory that has been around d since the 1930s and gained traction is recent years is that zebra’s stripes have evolved to help them avoid bites from disease-carrying flies. Vector striped grayscale background. Its unique colouring of a striped head and neck fading into a solid coat towards its rump made it look like a cross between a zebra and a horse. Their stripes come in various patterns unique to each individual. A baby zebra cartoon. This theory was put to the test by biologists from the University of California, published in 2019. They are generally friendly animals that live in small harems to huge groups. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Zebras have dark skin beneath their fur The most common zebra stripe pattern material is metal. The zebra’s stripes are one of the most stunning and extraordinary patterns in nature, and a pattern that has been pondered over by humans, probably since they first saw them. Researchers looked at the nature of the disorientation effect in flies, and ruled out the hypothesis that a common optical illusion known as "aperture effect" has a role in dazzling them. 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To our eyes the black and white stripes of a zebra is an unsusual pattern in the green brown environment of the African savannah (Credit: Getty Images) Experiments so … It was historically believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes since some zebras have white underbellies. On your next day on the farm or horseback riding excursion, it's possible you might want to consider wearing striped or checkered patterns yourself. abstract line waves. Having a pattern that increased protection from fly carried-diseases would be a strong evolutionary advantage, meaning stripes would be passed on to future generations. They have broad stripes that fade to grey as they move down the body – called shadow striping – and predominantly white legs. There are three living species of zebras that roam eastern and southern Africa. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. sound wave oscillation. The pattern of stripes on a zebra are completely unique to each zebra, much like a human fingerprint. Contact, Set of seamless animal print pattern black and white, Side view full body of african zebra isolated white background, Cute baby zebra posing isolated on white background. Southern states can have two generations of horseflies each year, whereas in Northern areas there will usually be just one, she explained. His take here is that a zebra’s stripes in some way help males and females decide who they will mate with. Cows painted like zebras can fend off flies better than their plain-coated counterparts, Make like a zebra to avoid insect bites, scientists say. Ads are shown to you based on a number of factors like relevancy and the amount sellers pay per click. The scientists behind the study have suggested that this steady temperature difference between stripes would drive a ‘mildly turbulent air’ along the animal’s back to help cool it. Collect. This time, the researchers observed the fly behavior around horses wearing gray coats, striped coats and checkered coats, learning that flies "avoided landing on, flew faster near, and did not approach as close to striped and checked rugs" compared to gray, according to the study. Or perhaps you have a theory of your own to share? Follow us for instant access to all of our best safari & wildlife content: 10 Iconic African Monkeys To Spot On Safari, 8 Tips to research & choose the right safari company, When, where & how to see the great migration. The "messy feeding habit" of tabanids causes pain and discomfort to animals like horses and cattle, and exposes them to the transmission of diseases, including equine infectious anemia. The zebra is one of the oldest members of the horse family, the ancestor of today’s modern horses. Tabanid horseflies have a different anatomy compared to other blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes, which have needle-like mouths that can penetrate the skin. Great! When enabled, areas of the image over a certain threshold are filled with a striped or cross-hatch pattern to dramatically highlight areas … black and white. Save. elegant wavy texture. Zebras are several species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black-and-white–striped coats. "Our findings show that this effect is not operating - based on flies' behavior around patterned coats - because if it was, flies should land on checks but not stripes. This theory is highly unlikely to be the why zebras have stripes, given that a) uniformly coloured horses are able to recognize other individuals by sight and sound, and b) unusual unstriped zebras have been observed mingling happily with a herd and breeding successfully. We’ll keep this post updated as the science progresses, so be sure to check back for the latest developments. Patterns are fun to doodle, can add a touch of flair to an everyday item or, can be used as a design element. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 176,792 times. They studied zebras alongside domestic horses which were dressed in different coats: all black, all white, and a black-and-white zebra pattern. Please log in again. The mystery of why zebras have their characteristic stripes has perplexed researchers for over a century. One theory for why zebras have stripes that has gained support in recent years is that their alternating colour pattern works to control their body temperatures. Containing horseflies is "almost impossible," according to Swiger. Together with horses and asses, zebras are members of the Equus genus, and the only striped member of the family. Could a zebra’s strips work as to help camouflage them from their main predators, lions and hyenas?