Zebras Are Black With White Stripes
A zebra is a striped African horse. Embryology settles the old question of which colour is the background.
A zebra is an African member of the horse family with a coat of black and white stripes. The old question has an answer: zebras are black animals with white stripes. The embryo's skin is uniformly dark, and the white bands form where pigment production is switched off during development. Shave a zebra and the skin beneath is black. The stripe pattern is unique to each animal, and the leading explanation for its purpose is that it deters biting flies.
- A striped equid. *A plains zebra.*
- Black with white stripes. *The base colour.*
- Zebra crossing — a British road crossing. *A zebra crossing.*
- Unique stripes. *Like fingerprints.*
- Portuguese — *zebra*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | zebra | A zebra. |
| Plural | zebras | Zebras. |
| Compound | zebra crossing | A zebra crossing. |
| Group | dazzle | A dazzle of zebras. |
| Portuguese | zebra | A zebra. |
- A dazzle of zebras crossed the plain.Animals.
- The skin beneath is black.Biology.
- Cross at the zebra crossing.British.
Why zebras have stripes
- Fly deterrence — the leading explanation, supported by experiment
- Biting flies land far less often on striped surfaces
- Camouflage — an older theory, now doubted on open plains
- Confusing predators — the dazzle effect, also questioned
- Temperature regulation — proposed but not well supported
Portuguese or Italian *zebra*, probably from a Congolese language, or from Latin *equiferus*, a wild horse.
Are zebras black with white stripes or the reverse?
Black with white stripes. The embryo's skin is uniformly dark and the white bands form where pigment is switched off.
What are the stripes for?
The best-supported explanation is that they deter biting flies, which land far less often on striped surfaces.