11/04/2022
Why do zebras have their stripes? Interesting😍
Thermoregulation
One of the first theories was that unique stripes help to keep a zebra cool.
Black and white absorb sunlight differently. When air hits the black stripes it flows faster, because black absorbs heat. Then the air slows down when it reaches the white stripes.
This creates air currents. When these currents collide they form swirls of air, just like a fan. So the stripes are a form of thermoregulation.
••Disruptive coloration to avoid predators!
The classic hypothesis is that stripes are a form of camouflage. It was first put forward by Charles Darwin, somebody who knew a lot about animal evolution.
The purpose of unique stripes is not classic camouflage. Instead, Darwin said that the stripes prevent predators from identifying an individual. They can see and smell the herds, but struggle to catch one.
Zebra typically huddle together in close-knit herds. This contrasts wildebeest herds, which are spread out over large distances.
Black and white is not a good camouflage for green grass. However, when the herd moves it causes something called motion blur. The black and white stripes coalesce into a single mass, making it difficult for predators to locate a target.
The patterns confuse and obscure. The stripes blend and overlap and flicker. It could be so confusing that a predator doesn’t even know which way the zebra herd .
