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Scientists Dressed Horses Like Zebras To Figure Out Why They Have Stripes (vice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the mad-science dept.

Why do zebras have stripes? From a report: Evolutionary biologists have proposed many possible theories, such as camouflage or vision aids for recognizing individual zebras. But in recent years, pest control has emerged as the leading explanation for zebra stripes. Researchers led by Tim Caro, an evolutionary ecologist at UC Davis, set out to test this idea in the field. The results, published Wednesday in PLOS ONE, reveal that stripes are a powerful deterrent to horse flies, a common nuisance that suck blood and bite flesh. The experiment managed to find the most delightful way to help explain these uniquely patterned coats -- by getting horses to cosplay as zebras.


8 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. I remember reading by DaMattster · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I remember reading somewhere that the stripes were a product of evolution. Apparently, it is to confuse their primary predator, the lion. Since lions see only in black and white, the stripes are designed to confuse and disorient the lion.

  2. Many theories are out there by sjbe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I remember reading somewhere that the stripes were a product of evolution. Apparently, it is to confuse their primary predator, the lion. Since lions see only in black and white, the stripes are designed to confuse and disorient the lion.

    Yes that is one theory. However it hasn't really been objectively verified. Kind of hard to do a double blind study on something like that if you get what I'm saying. That theory might be true or it might be completely irrelevant to how it happened. Most zebras are not killed by lions so it's quite plausible that lions did not create a significant evolutionary pressure regarding the stripes.

    1. Re:Many theories are out there by alvinrod · · Score: 3, Informative

      It’s not quite correct but it has been researched. Zebras’ stripes do help them evade lions but not because lions can only see black and white, but because the stripe pattern makes it difficult for lions to identify a single zebra among the herd. The pattern makes them all blend together and confuses the lion enough to let a zebra escape when the lion hesitates or miscalculates.

      To test this theory some researchers painted a big stripe (I think it was red) on one zebra in a herd. The lions had no problem killing that one because it stood out and they could track it in isolation even when it was among other Zebras. There may be other benefits to Zebras having stripes, but we do know that it is an adaptation against primary predators.

    2. Re:Many theories are out there by Calydor · · Score: 3, Funny

      I have here this tiger-repelling rock. You know it works because there are no tigers around.

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
    3. Re:Many theories are out there by aevan · · Score: 3, Informative

      Dazzle pattern camoflage.

  3. Not color blind by sjbe · · Score: 4, Informative

    Since lions see only in black and white,

    Lions see color just fine. Not quite the same as us but definitely not black and white.

  4. Not new by Teun · · Score: 4, Informative

    Zebra-style horse blankets have been available since a couple of years and precisely for this reason, get less trouble with flies.

    --
    "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
  5. That's how you get skunks by sjbe · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the next step is to see if the same applies to smaller animals. take a cat, paint a white stripe down its back and see what happens...

    They've tried that and it results in amorous skunks with bad French accents.