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Zebras: Interesting Facts – Amazing Nature
12.01.2024 00:00
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:21
In fact, a zebra is black with white stripes, and not vice versa. Since black stripes are caused by the genetic process of selective pigmentation (the presence of pigment), therefore black color is the main pigment, and white stripes are the absence of it.
How did the zebra animal appear
Zebras, horses and donkeys all descended from a common ancestor - Hyracotherium - that lived in Europe and North America approximately 55 million years ago.
They all belong to the equine family (zebras are a little closer to donkeys, however).
Externally, zebras are very similar to horses, or rather ponies, except for the stripes.
How zebras recognize each other
Zebras have color vision. They easily recognize each other by their stripes, which, like human fingerprints, are unique.
Simply put, there are no zebras in the world with the same color.
Why do zebras need stripes
Neither horseflies nor deadly tsetse flies bite zebras, since to their vision zebras appear to them as flickering black and white stripes. Also, zebras gather together to confuse predators that do not have color vision (for example, lions).
American scientists have experimentally confirmed the hypothesis that the stripes on the zebra's body help them effectively protect themselves from insects.
After observing horses, zebras, and horses dressed as zebras, they found that horseflies were less likely to land on the animal's striped body because they apparently couldn't find a place to land quickly.
Previously, we told interesting facts about rhinoceroses.
