(ORDO NEWS) — The researchers conducted a series of experiments to determine what the stripes on the body of a zebra protect the animal from. It turned out – from annoying horseflies.
So are zebras painted in black and white stripes or white and black?
The main trouble of many ungulates is flies and other insects, which distract, bite and constantly flash before their eyes with their buzzing.
Zebras are especially sensitive to bites: their skin is a short fur, which allows the horsefly to freely reach the skin and blood capillaries under it.
Scientists from the University of Bristol decided to figure out how zebras got such an unusual color and whether it helps them protect themselves from insects.
A team of researchers conducted a series of experiments in which they dressed horses in fabrics with different patterns: check, random check, black and white triangles, gray and monochrome tree bark fabric.
Stripe – a shield against horseflies
Observations showed that fabrics with contrasting stripes and gray patterns attracted fewer flies.
“This suggests that any ungulate that reduces its overall dark outline against the sky would benefit in terms of reduced ectoparasite attack,” explained Professor Tim Caro, co-author of the study.
However, why such stripes appeared in zebras is not clear to scientists. Future research will focus on this particular issue.
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