This was a question posed years ago in New Scientist magazine, and at the time it prompted some very interesting answers, covering just about the whole gamut of Scientific disciplines. I am curious to see how it is answered via Yahoo.
2006-08-06 02:50:01 · 30 answers · asked by Avondrow 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
sheep used to live in extremely cold mountainous regions
before we domesticated them
they used to be white in snowy areas and either brown or black in areas where there was less snow
also mammals dont tend to be green
also white is highly versatile
it not only reflects heat keeping the animal cool
but insulates heat keeping the animal cool
wool also has these properties
the process of evolution left sheep with an ectremely adaptable outer layer that keeps it warm in the cold and cold in the warm
2006-08-06 02:54:14 · answer #1 · answered by The_sky_is_blue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps because they can't perform photosynthesis?
No, wait, parrots are green.
Seems as though green would be a great camouflage for wild sheep. Once they were domesticated, though, shepherds would have selected for white wool (which can be dyed) and for the natural browns and blacks.
Possibly, by chance, they developed the flocking strategy to protect themselves from predators and so just never acquired protective coloration. Do you know the "real" answer?
2006-08-06 10:01:51 · answer #2 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you look around you'll see that there are no green fur on any of the animals on earth. That's because the animals, which have fur are mammals. They have constant temperature and for that they need a color that doesn't absorb the light heat so good, so that they can easily reduce it when the temperature is above limits. And everything, but white color, absorb it very well.
2006-08-06 10:01:14 · answer #3 · answered by spokoman_goliath 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Objects are the color of the light that they reflect. Since white reflects all colors., if you shined a green light on a white sheep it would look green. As far as I know sheep are shades of white, brown and black. But a sheep could get grass stained.
2006-08-06 10:05:25 · answer #4 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
42
2006-08-06 09:53:53 · answer #5 · answered by wtfnmy22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this to do with evolution and camouflage or down to the fact that because flamingos eat shrimps they are pink then why if sheep eat green grass why aren't they green.
The answer to both is of course - Bug*ered if I know.
2006-08-06 09:56:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess if you really wanted a green sheep you can get one to achieve that color with some green food coloring mixed with water and always use a spray bottle. The color is not permant and will eventually grow out.
2006-08-06 09:55:09 · answer #7 · answered by slanteyedkat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is this not an animal that originated in a somewhat cooler mountainous region? in which case the wool would serve both to warm (of course they have been bred into the tight curly breeds they are today) protect, and camoflage in the regions they come from if indeed those climes are cooler. and mountainous.
2006-08-06 09:55:49 · answer #8 · answered by kittycollector32 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why didn't you ask why the milk is not green?
Think how many colorfull thinks do you eat every day. I hope you don't look like a rainbow :P
Anyway, only some vegetables (like carots) has pigments what dye your skin (carotene.) Grass doesn't have it.
2006-08-06 10:08:38 · answer #9 · answered by Paulina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know!
It's a good question actually - most animals have a way of camoflaging themselves - what can a sheep be disguising itself as? Or a cow for that matter?
2006-08-06 09:55:09 · answer #10 · answered by Showaddywaddy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋