Why Do Zebras Have Stripes?
Good question! And even though god may have given them stripes, he gave them stripes for a reason and you should not be told not to ask such questions. Such questions are how we (humans) learned to fly, write, build fires, etc. (even make computers and electricity). Keep asking!!!!!! Like others have said it is to confuse predators. Stripes are camouflage, but they do not camouflage against the grass they camouflage against the other herd members. A study was done in the 70’s where zebras where captured and their stripes repainted. Some zebras where dyed all black while others all white. The black and the white zebras were singled out of the herd by predators. In a follow up study only the legs were changed. In some the stripes on the legs where covered up. In others the stripes on the legs were repainted as vertical stripes. In all cases the amount of predation was higher on the altered zebras. Interesting note there is a martial arts technique which uses the same illusion. When the z
Zebras have stripes to make them blend in with the scenery and to keep them safe from attack. This is very much like what soldiers do in wartime, as they cover their helmets with leaves and attempt to hide their artillery by drawing leaf-covered nets over them to blend them in with the scenery. This is called camouflage. Though
There are many reasons why the zebra is striped, according to zebra theorists (a.k.a biologists). These reasons include, but are not limited to: • Camouflage. It doesn’t matter that the zebra’s stripes are black and white and the lines of the grass are yellow, brown or green, because the zebra’s main predator, the lion, is colourblind. The pattern of the camouflage is much more important than its colour when hiding from these predators. If a zebra is standing still in matching surroundings, a lion may overlook it completely. The dappling effect of the grass and the shadows caused also helps the “pyjama-ed horse” to blend in. • Travelling in herds, as zebras do, is also a help. As Sour has written, it is almost impossible for a lion to tell which darned zebra was the one that was lagging behind when they all look almost the same. Add that to the fact that a whole moving herd of zebra can look almost like just one giant mass to the attacking lion and the zebra is better off than you’d or
-Mary There’s no black-and-white answer, Mary. Scientists have several explanations for the distinctive pattern on a zebra’s coat. The stripes may help zebras blend into the tall grass of the African savannah, making it hard for predators to find them. When a herd of zebras is together, all the stripes may confuse predators—they can’t tell where one zebra begins and the other ends! This may give weak or elderly zebras a chance to escape.
