Why zebras have stripes or stripes seems like a peripheral question, but it has puzzled scientists since 1817. It even puzzled Darwin. And even today there is no exact answer. Or is it? There are many theories circulating, but the freshest and most plausible so far is that they use black and white stripes, which they can change, to regulate their body temperature, which is also confirmed by the latest study of the Royal Society Open Science magazine. In warmer regions, they have more of them.
Why zebras have stripes is a century, actually a two-century-old question. Although during this time there was a lot circulating some theories, but only one or two is correct. The fact that the stripes regulate body temperature, and that the striped surface repels flies and other insects. It is known that black and white combination with light with horizontal waves (black) mixing with unpolarized light (white), they repel insects with leather wings. But because all three types of zebras have distinct black and white stripes that stand out quite a bit other grazing animals, such as bison and antelopes that blend into the savanna, are like a glowing cigarette in the mouth of a soldier in the middle of the night on the battlefield.
Well, as said, there are lines fugitive scientists as a rare thing. In addition to the mentioned two theories, there were other hypotheses that justify the shouting. Namely, to create with tracks optical illusion, to confuse predators and to recognize each other in herds, or to spot an "intruder" more easily.
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According to the latest findings, he drinks water the most temperature regulation theory. Warmer than it is more lines they have. Great. Now we know. But a new question arises. Why do streaks affect temperature? But that's a new bone to chew on. So far, there are two possible causes. One is that when the air hits the zebra at dark streaks, there is a current stronger and faster (and clearly absorbs more heat) than whites.
At the junction, however, two streams are created due to mixing mini air vortex, which cools the skin. Zebras with many stripes have both in the same environment up to 3 degrees lower skin temperature like mammals without stripes. Another reason is that the tracks are a defensive wall against diseases because, as we have already mentioned, they repel insects (especially extremely dangerous horse flies), who are potential carriers of them. But not so much because of the "strange" light as because of the lower skin temperature. In addition, they do not like biting flies striped surfaces.
More information:
rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org
