Animals - Animal types and traits - Zebras - Animal behavior
Why do zebras have stripes?
Correct!
Among the different explanations for zebra stripes, protection from biting flies has particularly strong experimental support. The high-contrast stripes appear to make controlled landing more difficult for the flies.
Experiments with zebras, horses, and zebra-striped models found fewer successful landings by biting flies on striped animals. The exact effect on the fly’s visual system is not yet fully understood.
