So what color is a zebra?
In fact, the zebra is black in white stripe, and not vice versa. Since black stripes are caused by the genetic process of selective pigmentation (the presence of pigment), therefore black is the main pigment, and white stripes are its absence.
There are three types of zebras: desert, savanna, mountain. We've been dealing with savannah zebras all the time. It can be distinguished by wide stripes and the presence of shadow stripes. However, once we managed to meet a mountain zebra.
Mountain zebra. She has wider black stripes and thinner white gaps. And as you can see, there are no shadow bands.
For a complete picture, I will briefly talk about other types of zebras that we have not met.
Desert zebra. Thin stripes located close to each other. And she also has a wide dark stripe that stretches along the spine.
It is worth mentioning the Zebra Quagga, which, unfortunately, was completely exterminated in 1878. She looked like this:
But let's not talk about sad things and return to our savannah zebras. We met them not only in national parks, but sometimes just along the road in the savannah. Zebras have always met large groups. And often in pairs. Find a boy
Once upon a time national park Etosha (Namibia) we met a melanistic zebra:
And this guy was walking and listening to music with headphones:
Baby zebra drink mother's milk:
And here we are crossing the stream. The zebras, which we didn’t notice initially, rush in all directions:
Neighs (probably above us):
Oh, and zebras, zebras, zebras:
Zebras, thanks to their original appearance, are one of the most recognizable animals, as well as a symbol wildlife Africa. But what kind of zebra is actually: black with white stripes or white with black stripes. We cover this and more in our collection. interesting facts about zebras.
Relatives
The closest relatives of zebras are horses, kulans and donkeys, which all belong to the horse genus (equine family, equine order). Due to genetic proximity, zebras can form hybrids with horses (zebroids) and with donkeys (zebrules).
Zebroid - a hybrid of a horse and a zebra 
Zebrul - a hybrid of a zebra and a donkey
Not one, but three
There are actually three types of zebra: Grevy's zebra (desert zebra), mountain zebra, and Burchell's zebra (savannah zebra). All of them differ in growth and nuances of color.
Grevy's zebra lives only in Kenya and Ethiopia and is a rare endangered species. 
This is a mountain zebra, which is found only in highlands in southern Africa 
Burchellova, or savannah zebra - the most common species of zebra that lives in African savannas south of the equator Black or white
According to scientists, zebras are black with white stripes. The black color is the main pigment, and the white areas of the zebra's body are the places where the black pigment is absent. Although a number of experts dispute this point of view and believe that the zebra is actually white.
Why stripes are needed
Researchers believe that zebra stripes were acquired as a result of evolution. It proved to be a handy weapon in the fight against predators. Animals with black and white vision, such as lions, find it difficult to single out one zebra from a herd and attack. In addition, the striped color is a good remedy against tsetse flies and horseflies: the light from the stripes different color reflects and refracts differently, which is disorienting dangerous insects.
There is no other like it
Despite the apparent similarity, each zebra has a completely unique arrangement of stripes on the skin. Two identical zebras simply do not exist in nature.
Live like horses
Zebras live in herds, just like their closest relatives - horses. At the head of the herd is a leader male, who is accompanied by females with cubs and young zebras.
whole year
The pregnancy of a female zebra lasts about 370 days. The cub that was born stays with its mother for some time in isolation from the herd. According to scientists, this is done so that the little zebra remembers its mother's smell better and does not get lost among relatives later.
rose milk
Mothers feed small cubs with unusual pink milk.
Can't be tamed
Many African tribes have tried to domesticate zebras, but have not been successful in this. Although there are references to the ancient rome zebras were harnessed to circus carts.
Project Quagga
Back in the 19th century, in the open spaces African continent one could meet the quagga zebra, which was exterminated by man. She was distinguished by the fact that her stripes were common only in the front of the body. Today, geneticists are trying to resurrect this subspecies of zebras using DNA fragments isolated from the remains of an animal. Some progress has already been made in this direction and several animals have been obtained, called "Quaggi Rau".
Zebra "Quaggi Rau" Is a zebra black with white stripes or white with black? given by the author Maksim the best answer is Zebra, the oldest wild horse in sultry Africa, is a mysterious animal. Scientists are still arguing whether a white horse is with black stripes or vice versa. And in general - why is the zebra striped, like our life?
Kipling was the first to answer this question. Since then, the kids know that the zebra got tired of running away from the leopards, who hid in the grass and treacherously attacked unsuspecting prey. And she went into the forest, where striped shadows fell from the trees. And gradually became striped: "What was in the shade became dark, and what remained in the light turned into light." In general, her dark skin burned out.
However, for an adult, this explanation is not suitable. And he came up with many adult theories - from chemical to socio-visual - to explain why almost all African animals in the process of evolution chose their skins of grayish and brownish tones (to match the color of the African landscape), and the zebra decided to be original. Its black-and-white stripes are eye-catching, literally teasing and provoking hungry predators. However, you can’t argue with evolution: if zebra herds have not died out in two million years, but continue to please our eyes with a striped color, we have to admit: for some reason, stripes are needed.
Black or white?
However, let's first figure out what color a zebra is - black with white stripes or white with black. Only at first glance, the question seems philosophical, like "The glass is half empty or half full?": It all depends on the level of optimism in the blood of the beholder. And yet meticulous supporters of evolution long years twirled the zebra on all sides until they came to... conflicting conclusions.
On the one hand, the white belly of zebras proves that they are white animals with black stripes. But after all, many monochromatic mammals have a belly of a lighter color. So the logic refutes this point of view. According to Dr. Jonathan Bard, an embryologist at the University of Edinburgh, the answer to this question can be given by those individuals whose white stripes are not fully formed and look more like a cluster of white dots, stripes and spots on a black background. "This can be explained by the incomplete formation of the zebra's white stripes, so that the background color of these animals is black," he says. In short, most likely, zebras are black horses with white stripes. At least that will be the case until more evidence is found.
Answer from I[guru]
it's just striped and that's it
Answer from Utepov_talgat[active]
It is transparent with black and white stripes)
Answer from Anton Solovyov[active]
She is black in white, since the front, that is, her nose, is black.
Answer from Natasha[guru]
Life is like a zebra, white stripe, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, and then ASS! !! !
And even further, sometimes. there is a TAIL ...
You can ride on it, like from a hill and have fun, or you can hang yourself ....
Answer from **$MERY$**[master]
The question is not as funny as it seems. Biologists answered it in the 19th century. Zebra - black with white stripes. We understood this when we first met her close relative - the quagga, she has stripes not all over her body, but only on the croup and shoulders - white on a dark background.
Answer from User deleted[active]
The question is philosophical and how many people did not argue on this score, no one came to one.
So what color is a zebra?
A zebra is actually black with white stripes, not the other way around. Since black stripes are caused by the genetic process of selective pigmentation (the presence of pigment), therefore black is the main pigment, and white stripes are its absence.
There are three types of zebras: desert, savanna, mountain. We've been dealing with savannah zebras all the time. It can be distinguished by wide stripes and the presence of shadow stripes.
For a complete picture, I will briefly talk about other types of zebras that we have not met.
Mountain zebra. She has wider black stripes and thinner white gaps. And as you can see, there are no shadow bands.
Desert zebra. Thin stripes located close to each other. And she also has a wide dark stripe that stretches along the spine.
It is worth mentioning the Zebra Quagga, which, unfortunately, was completely exterminated in 1878. She looked like this:
But let's not talk about sad things and return to our savannah zebras. We met them not only in national parks, but sometimes just along the road in the savannah. Zebras have always been seen in large groups. And often in pairs. Find a boy
Once in the Etosha National Park (Namibia) we met an albino zebra:
And this guy was walking and listening to music with headphones:
Baby zebra drink mother's milk:
And here we are crossing the stream. The zebras, which we didn’t notice initially, rush in all directions:
Neighs (probably above us):
Oh, and zebras, zebras, zebras:
Many people think that the zebra is White horse in a black stripe, since zebras have white bellies. However, studies of zebras at the embryonic stage show that the background color of the animal is black, so it is more correct to consider a zebra black in white stripe. Since black stripes are caused by the genetic process of selective pigmentation (the presence of pigment), therefore, black is the main pigment, and white stripes are its absence.
Why are zebras so striped? After all, such a coloring does not mask it at all in the African savannahs. Let's figure it out...
Why are zebra stripes interesting?
The appearance of a zebra has always raised many questions. Scientists put forward a lot various hypotheses why this animal has such an extreme color, but every time the assumptions were not confirmed. Today, apparently, the controversy is over. A group of British scientists have found a completely logical explanation black and white stripes. In an article published in scientific journal Journal of Experimental Biology, the researchers wrote that this coloration is the least attractive to horseflies.
To prove their theory, the scientists conducted an experiment with three models of horses, one of which was painted in White color, the other - in black, and the third - "under the zebra". All models were covered with a special adhesive liquid so that the horseflies that landed on them could then be counted. It was the third "horse", said in the article, that attracted the least insects.
Previously, scientists assumed that the color of the zebra is a protection. But as a result of many studies, it was concluded that black and white color does not scare away predators at all. The theory that because of the stripes the animal becomes less noticeable among the shadow and light alternating in tall grass has also not been confirmed, since the main enemy of the zebra - the lion - hunts only at close range.
There was also a version that during the mass movement striped zebras merge into one large stream, and this prevents the predator from fixing its gaze on any one individual. However, practice shows that the lion just as often succeeds in hunting zebra, as well as other animals.
Moreover, at night in the moonlight, the zebra stands out, and its chances of survival are less than those of other inhabitants. African steppe because lions are nocturnal hunters.
It has also been argued that the black and white stripes of a zebra are meant to attract the attention of the opposite sex. But this assumption did not stand up to criticism, since individuals of both sexes have stripes.
Some zoologists believe that the black and white color saves the zebra from the scorching African sun. But, if this theory were true, then other animals of the savannah would have such stripes.
By the way, long time did not give scientists another funny question - a zebra is black with white stripes or white with black. At first it was believed that these are white animals with black stripes, since they have a white belly, which means that this color is predominant in the color. However, studies of zebras at the embryonic stage have shown that the background color of the animal is black, so it is more correct to consider a zebra black with a white stripe.
Each zebra has its own unique pattern, similar to human fingerprints. A zebra cub recognizes its mother from the drawing. The first time after the birth of a foal, she covers him with her body from her relatives so that he remembers her color.
By the striped color of the coat, you can even find out where the zebra lives. Zebras that live in the northern plains have black and white stripes. The zebras that inhabit southern savannas, the stripes on the coat are dark, but not jet black. Sometimes they are even chestnut. Some zebras living on the southern plains have pale brownish stripes on their white fur between the black stripes. There are zebras whose black stripes merge with each other. The coat of these animals looks spotty.
But what else can be interesting to remember about the zebra:
The average life expectancy of zebras is 25 years, but in captivity they can live up to 35-40.
When all the zebras in the herd are resting, several "volunteers" are on guard in order to warn all relatives of the approaching danger if something happens.
Zebras have a very developed sense of family. Some individuals can form alliances for life. And despite the fact that there may be a thousand heads in the herd, they are all divided into small families.
Baby foals are not born with black stripes like adults, but reddish-brown.
Zebras are very clean animals by nature, you can often see how they clean each other's sides, shoulders and back. After the birth of the foals, after half an hour they begin to walk and drink their mother's milk. And the milk that zebras feed their foals is not white, but pink.
The body length of zebras can reach two to two and a half meters, and the height limit is one and a half meters. Each zebra has a unique striped pattern on its body, and no other zebra has exactly the same. A zebra is actually black with white stripes, not the other way around. Since black stripes are caused by the genetic process of selective pigmentation (the presence of pigment), therefore black is the main pigment, and white stripes are its absence.
Often the question arises as to what color zebras are: black with white stripes or white with black stripes. After conducting more than one study, scientists have proven that the zebra is still black with white stripes.
The striped coloring helps zebras escape from tsetse flies. Insects attack any warm moving object, even a car. And zebras perceive tsetse flies simply as a flash of black and white stripes and are not regarded as a source of food.
Mountain zebras love to soak in dust baths and they do it almost daily. Zebras are able to distinguish their fellow herds by stripes. In the same way, a small foal recognizes its mother. Ancient people tried more than once to domesticate zebras, but this was not crowned with particular success.
Zebras can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. Zebras are very shy, even in zoos it is difficult to get close to their enclosure, as the animals immediately run away.
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