Why zebras have stripes

I know this sounds dumb--but I always thought zebras were donkeys painted white and black Oct 2, Williams' Wonderful Wacky Aug 26, We thought it was really amazing how predators think the zebra is one giant animal.

We still wonder if other animals, like an owl, see the zebra like one giant animal and if a lion will try to attack a herd. Jan 29, Felicity Jan 20, Hi Wonderopolis! I think it's intriesting that all zebras don't have the same stripes pattern and how their stripes help them camouflage. But how fast do zebras run and are they black with white stripes or white with black stripes? Jan 21, Nov 11, Oct 9, Alex Oczkus Oct 2, Are zebras white with black stripes?

Or black with white stripes? Oct 5, Wonderopolis May 14, Daniela from Mrs. Bahler's Enr Sep 23, How are zebras measured and how much do zebras' weigh?

Wonderopolis Sep 23, Angel from Mrs. Bahler's Enric Bahler Enrichment Class Sep 23, We did not know that lions were color blind. We wonder how lions can see zebras because it seems like their stripes keep them hidden. We think maybe lions can detect movement or heat signature from the zebras.

Wonderopolis Aug 26, Slate's class Apr 28, I like the zebra video. Kyleigh They are cool. Ella They run away fast. Callie I like their colors. Juan I like their neat legs. Wyatt I like their tails. Wonderopolis Apr 28, Wonderopolis Sep 4, Zebras need their stripes so they can blend in with the night sky and be beautiful in the clear bright sky aren't they so beautiful?

But they blend in with the night sky so they can hide from being a predator's prey Wonderopolis May 2, Labri Apr 25, First person: Cool I always thought zebras were white with black stripes but guess not!

You guys are awesome with this website I love it. Wonderopolis Apr 26, Gordon Apr 23, The baby zerbra was very cute. I like zebras. I'm in 2nd grade. Wonderopolis Apr 24, I liked the article. Also now I know why zebras have stripes. Wonderopolis Apr 10, Dowdell Apr 5, Thanks for the very interesting zebra Wonder! The 7S class really enjoyed finding out about zebras! Lena Wondered how many zebras are usually in a herd.

Peter G Wondered how many colours a chameleon can change to, Jacob K Wondered if he could train a zebra. Abe Wondered how many baby zebras a female zebra can have in her life. Benny Wondered if baby zebras can run as fast as the big ones. Thanks again Wonderopolis! We are loving Wondering with you! Wonderopolis Apr 6, Mar 27, I love zebras they are my favorite animal but I have a question.

What is a baby zebra called? Wonderopolis Mar 27, Hey there Wonderopolis! I always wondered why zebras have stripes! A lion is colorblind, and that is the main predator, so to us humans the zebra sticks out like a sour thumb, but in the wilderness it is a completely different story, so that makes perfect since!

I'll be looking at more of your wonders soon. Wonderopolis Mar 19, Wonderopolis Mar 1, Sasser's Clas Feb 25, Our class learned many new facts about zebras while reading this article. We were most surprised to learn that zebras are black with white stripes. We are still wondering if there are different types of zebras. We also wonder if zebras are also color blind. Wonderopolis Feb 25, Marissa Feb 21, Wow really interesting it's really cool to learn about the things I never knew about zebras!!

I've got one question though why are zebras getting endangered and if lions are color blind how do they sense them? Wonderopolis Feb 21, Iris Feb 21, That is really interesting I thought zebras stood out the most but they're camouflaged. Oh because I read a book about zebras and it said that it was caveman who painted black and white stripes so I don't know who to believe. Wonderopolis Feb 22, I didn't know snakes use camouflage! That's interesting! I think tomorrow's Wonder will be about how a dog can sometimes crossbreed.

Wonderopolis Feb 17, Hey it's me I was wondering why are some things color blind and can we get it and why do they have tongues? They don't talk so why do they need it? And you guys should have a v-day wonder like why do we have it and who made it. Wonderopolis Feb 14, Sienna Feb 13, Hey there Wonderopolis!!

I was just wondering Wonderopolis Feb 13, Radha Feb 12, Hi wonderopolis! I really liked the video and the information. I love how you make the information fun but educational at the same time!

So where do you get your information? Can't wait to see tomorrow's wonder of the day! Thanks, Radha Wonderopolis Feb 12, Kimora Feb 12, I love all the videos you come up with they are so cool.

Especially the zebra one. All the videos have interesting facts. Thanks, Kimora. Hey, I'm Kimora. I love how it shows all the interesting things about zebras. It was really nice getting the opportunity to get on Wonderopolis and see all this exciting stuff. Maybe your next wonder should be on "Why don't penguins swim" or something amazing!!!! Ali Feb 11, Zebras are my favorite animal!!! I'm glad you wrote about them! My favorite part of them is their stripes so I'm glad you wrote about that!

Wonderopolis Feb 11, Wonder Friend N Feb 7, I love zebras!! Thanks so much! Wonderopolis Feb 7, Cassandra Feb 6, Wonderopolis Feb 6, We're oh-so-glad you learned something new today, Cassandra! Kelsey Feb 6, Ashley ortega Feb 6, Briahna Feb 6, Hi, I am Briahna and I am in Mrs. Hess' class, here are my wonders: Are zebras born with stripes, or do they grow and then the stripes start appearing as the get older?

What other animals are color blind? Are zebras color blind? How many zebras are born each year? Is there a certain time during the year when most zebras are born, or are they just born all the time throught the year? What is the lifespand of a zebra? Cool I did not know all that stuff about zebras it was so cool. Wonderopolis Feb 5, Wonderopolis Feb 4, Chevalier's Class Feb 4, Dear Wonderopolis, We learned that zebras move in packs so that they look like one big animal.

We also learned that they are black with white stripes. Why are zebras called black and white horses? Why do animals like lions and zebras only see in black and white? Is the lion the only animal that hunts zebras? Do zebras have teeth? Why can't the lion pick out the black and white stripes? How fast does a zebra go? Are zebras related to any prehistoric animal? We think tomorrow's wonder will be about Greek mythology. Wonderopolis never gives you the answer for each wonder. Fireheart Feb 2, Hey guys!

How cool! That is funny because we are learning about that in school right now! Thanks again, Fireheart Wonderopolis Feb 3, Hey Wonderopolis! I just was wondering How is it that the scientists can tell is a lion is colorblind, and if it is, wouldn't the zebra still stand out? Thanks, Fireheart Wonderopolis Feb 2, I love zebras but I thought they were going to be black an white but after seeing the video and the facts I learned that zebras are white and black and I wonder if tomorrow's wonder will be about x-rays.

Would you make tomarrows wonder about unicorns? Wonderopolis Nov 7, Joseph Feb 1, Zebras are fascinating creatures at first I thought the stripes was for people to not think that it is a horse. Then my question is that what animal do the herds form when they run together? Did wonderoplis know that there was a zebra that is now extinct call a quagga zebra.

I learned a lot about zebras today and I hope to learn more soon about animals. Wonderopolis Feb 1, Lions are color blind. They use the stripes for camouflage and confusing their opponents. I like this info of the zebra I learned some stuff I didn't know about the zebra before as in how the animal hides in the brush and how the lion is color blind so it can't see the zebra so easy.

It's so much fun when we can learn something together, Wonder Friend student! Why are zebras black with white stripes? I looked and they have white with black stripes. And several researchers, over the years , have shown that these flies find it hard to land on striped surfaces.

No one, however, had watched the insects trying to bite actual zebras. The team found the same trend when they put striped coats on the horses. Cloaked in stripes, the very same animals suddenly became more resistant to flies, except on their uncovered heads.

And uniformly colored coats had no effect; the stripes, specifically, befuddled the flies. Either they miss and overshoot the zebras, or they bump into the hides and bounce off. Caro said that they might treat the black stripes like a pair of trees, try to fly between them, and end up colliding with the white stripes. Alternatively, the stripes might mess with their optic flow—their sense of objects moving across their visual field.

Environment As the EU targets emissions cuts, this country has a coal problem. Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Science Coronavirus Coverage What families can do now that kids are getting the vaccine. Magazine How one image captures 21 hours of a volcanic eruption.

Science Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. Science The controversial sale of 'Big John,' the world's largest Triceratops. Science Coronavirus Coverage How antivirals may change the course of the pandemic.

Travel A road trip in Burgundy reveals far more than fine wine. Travel My Hometown In L. Subscriber Exclusive Content. Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars? How viruses shape our world.

The era of greyhound racing in the U. See how people have imagined life on Mars through history. There are three living species of zebras that roam eastern and southern Africa. The most populous zebra species with a fragmented range covering much of southern and eastern Africa south of the Sahara. They have broad stripes that fade to grey as they move down the body — called shadow striping — and predominantly white legs.

The largest and most threatened of the zebra species, found in Kenya and Ethiopia. They have narrower stripes with clear black stripes down their necks and the middle of their backs and white undersides.

Native to southern Angola, Namibia , and South Africa , mountain zebras are the least common of the three species. They have wide dark stripes against a cream-colored background and a white belly. A dewlap flap of skin hanging from their throats also distinguishes these zebras from the other two species.

Bonus zebra: Quaqqa Equus quagga The quagga was a plains zebra that lived in South Africa until extinction in the late 19th century. Its unique colouring of a striped head and neck fading into a solid coat towards its rump made it look something like a cross between a zebra and a horse. Genetics causing selective pigmentation determines the variety of striping in any given animal. The resulting pattern is completely unique to each zebra, much like a human fingerprint. Zebras have dark skin beneath their fur 2.

Why zebras evolved to have such unique black and white stripes is a question that scientists — and the average safari-goer — have been asking for well over a century.