Why do zebras have black and white stripes?

Question

Someone asked me this today and didn't tell me why...

Answer 1

There is no definite answer to such question. Just like the zebra's color, there is no black and white exact explanation to that. Scientists had tried to explain the distinctive pattern in its coat. The stripes may help to blend into the tall grass of the African Savannah, as a camouflage from predators. Zebras close together, have their stripes confuse predators—they can't tell where one zebra begins and the other ends. The predators may just see a moving line and overlook the zebras . It will provide a chance to weak or elderly zebras to escape when going with the herd.

That's how they are trying to explain why zebras have stripe. But in reality however, nobody really knows the answer.

Answer 2

I do get so tired of people saying lions are colorblind. It was once believed to be true but is now known that they simply see colors differently. Even if they are Black and white would not hide them in the tall grass which would appear as a light gray.

Jessica is correct. The stripes prevent one animal from being separated. However it has been discovered in the last decade or so that most predators are not colorblind though they see colors differently than we do. For example cats are VERY good at seeing red (they can even see infrared beams used as detection beams).

Even the leg stripes have a use. Studies have shown that if you take the legs of zebras and repaint them with vertical stripes of no stripes there is a significant increase in the predation rate from lions. The zebras legs have horizontal stripes which makes it difficult for the lion to judge the exact location during a chase or kick. As a result lions sometimes miss their mark and the zebra escapes.

BTW there is a martial arts technique which uses the same effect to make it difficult for the opponent to judge and block a blow, and we also use this technique to hide our true size (ever see someone heavy set wearing vertical stripes or someone that is unusually tall and thin wearing horizontal stripes?)

Answer 3

Its an adaptation they have developed over the centuries since lions can only see in black and white the zebra´s black and white lines confuse the lion and he/she cant tell where a one zebra begins or ends.

Answer 4

The stripes, altough they may not seem as a camoflague mechanism, are used to blend in with the grass.

1- the vertical stripings help the zebra hide in grass (the lion is color blind which is its main predator).

2- Because zebras are herd animals, the many stripes confuse the predator; a herd may look like one large animal.

3- They may be used to recognize individuals.

Answer 5

It is thought to be a protective coloration for the individual zebra. When zebra are herded together it becomes difficult for a predator, usually the lion, to tell one zebra from another.

Answer 6

We don't know exactly. The theory is that the stripes help camouflage the animals from predators by confusing animals like lions and keeping them from being able to separate one zebra from another. As to why they are black and white, color is unnecessary because predators are color blind.
Or you could always just go with something like: Because (insert creator name here) ran out of blue.

Answer 7

The guide at the San Diego Wild Animal Park just the other day said that nobody really knows why the stripes are there. (BTW, she also said that zebras are black with white stripes.)

Answer 8

camouflage..so lions and other predators cannot tell where one animal begins and one ends...much more difficult to catch it you can't even tell exactly where the animal is.