Animal colors and patterns serve diverse purposes, from camouflage to mate attraction.

Some provide camouflage to avoid detection by predators or prey, like the stripes of a tiger.

Others act as warning signals, indicating danger to potential threats, such as the bright colors of poison dart frogs. Some patterns are for attracting mates, like the elaborate displays of male peacocks.

However, the black-and-white stripes of zebras pose a puzzling question. As herbivores, their conspicuous appearance seems ineffective for hiding. Furthermore, since both males and females possess these stripes, the mate attraction theory doesn't hold.

So, what is the purpose of the black-and-white stripes of zebras? Why did they evolve this way? Let's delve into this fascinating topic.

To most people, zebras may all look alike, essentially horses covered in black and white stripes. Yet, there are three species of zebras: the Grevy's zebra, the mountain zebra, and the plains zebra, distinguished mainly by the patterns of their stripes.

The plains zebra, commonly seen in zoos, has stripes extending onto its belly, unlike the other two species where the belly is white without stripes, making it easy to identify them by their bellies.

The mountain zebra and Grevy's zebra can be differentiated by the width and density of stripes on their hindquarters. Mountain zebras have thicker stripes on their hindquarters, while Grevy's zebras have thinner, more densely packed stripes.

Regardless of the species, each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, akin to fingerprints or the stripes of tigers.

Zebras are social animals, often found in groups ranging from dozens to hundreds. They are cautious and skittish, quick to flee when sensing danger, reaching speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour.

Many wonder why zebras, being a type of horse, were not domesticated by humans. This relates to their temperament. Despite their timidity, zebras can become aggressive when approached by humans, making domestication difficult. Additionally, unlike domesticated horses, zebras do not follow a leader obediently, posing further challenges to domestication.

When a wild horse leader is captured, the rest of the group follows, facilitating their domestication. This is one reason why wild horses were successfully domesticated, unlike zebras.

2. What is the purpose of zebra stripes?

The most striking feature of zebras is their black-and-white stripes. These stripes serve a purpose and are not randomly distributed on their bodies. But what exactly is their function?

Many may assume that zebra stripes are a form of camouflage, as animals often use camouflage to deceive predators or prey. However, considering how conspicuous zebra stripes are, it's unlikely that they evolved for camouflage.

Instead, zebra stripes serve as a form of disruptive coloration, confusing predators rather than concealing the zebras. When zebras run together in a group, their stripes blend, making it difficult for predators like lions to single out individual prey.

Biologists conducted an experiment where they painted red stripes on some zebras and observed an unexpected outcome. Zebras with red stripes were more easily targeted by lions, as they stood out prominently within the group.

Therefore, one of the main purposes of zebra stripes is to confuse predators, making it harder for them to distinguish zebras from one another within a herd, thus reducing the likelihood of successful predation.

Zebras exemplify evolutionary intricacies with their unique stripes, providing key insights into animal behavior and survival strategies.

In nature, every species continually evolves to adapt to its environment, and the black-and-white stripes of zebras are a remarkable product of this ongoing process.