Wildlife
Why the zebra got its stripes One of the best places in the world to see zebras is the Serengeti in Tanzania, where herds of them stand out against the dusty savannah with their distinctive monochrome marking. A recent study has found these stripes provide a deterrent against another common resident here – flies. If only they were as effective against lions. discerning the reasons
W
difference between the amount and
for zebras’ distinctive
behaviour of the flies as they hovered
marking, the answers have been
over the horses and zebras – includ-
far from black and white – until
ing one rather less than descriptively
now. A recent study has given the
named ‘Spot’ – but the patterns of the
lie to theories such as that the
zebras and the horse in zebra disguise
stripes help zebras evade capture
had an effect when the flies got close.
hen it comes to
The study found there was no
by predators, that the markings
Every zebra has a unique coat
are there for social reasons and
pattern, much like a fingerprint, yet
that the animals are striped to
each zebra in the study had the same
keep cool. However, it has found
effect on the flies as did the striped
plenty of evidence that the stripes
coats on the horses. The coats were
appear to confuse flies, deterring
used to ensure it was not the different
them from landing for a quick bite.
scent of the zebras that was dissuad-
A team at the University of Bristol, in the UK, conducted the research,
ing the flies from landing. Dr Martin How, co-author of the
which involved 16 hours standing in
research from the University of Bristol,
fields and observing how horseflies
said: “The flies seemed to be behaving
interacted with three zebras and nine horses, including some draped in black and white sheets to resemble zebras.
Stripes and flies don't mix The results, published in the open access scientific journal ‘Plos One’, not only back the idea that a zebra’s stripes ward off flies, but reveal this is achieved by disorientating the fly’s vision, causing it to turn away or even collide with the zebra when attempting its bloodthirsty landing.
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Paa Tanzania
Zebras in Tanzania Unmistakable animals
