Zebras are social animals and often gather in large groups. Within these groups, there is a sense of community and cooperation that allows them to protect their young from predators. When a threat approaches, the zebras will form a protective circle around the vulnerable members of the group, including the foals.
Scientists think their stripes serve as sunscreen and bug repellent, act as camouflage, letting them hide against a background, and help them recognize each other. The setting of their eyes, the movement of their ears, and their hard, skinny hooves are other zebra adaptations.
Zebra stripes capitalise on this type of illusion to help protect the animals. Broad diagonal stripes on a zebra's flank and the narrower vertical stripes on its back can also confuse this mechanism.
Zebra stripes Wildlife evolution Biology camouflage. If you’ve always thought of a zebra’s stripes as offering some type of camouflaging protection against predators, it’s time to think again, suggest scientists at the University of Calgary and UC Davis. Findings from their study will be published Friday, Jan. 22, in the journal PLOS ONE.
Strategies highly successful against many predators (Estes 2012; Klingel 2013) Herbivore interactions. Zebras may open up grassland habitat for use by others. Removal of lower-quality, older-growth grass stems, sheaths, and seed heads by zebra clears the way for more selective ruminants (Hack et al. 2002; Maddock 1979; Owaga 1975)
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how do zebra stripes protect them from predators
