Why is a zebra stuck out? The reason is finally being clarified

by Magda Ehlers

The mystery of "Why is a zebra plagued?" That has plagued scientists for more than 150 years includes "how to avoid predators," "to control body temperature well", "how to do social function" Hypothesis was made, but the conclusion has not yet appeared. Scientists at Bristol University and the University of California at Davis are investigating this mystery and added evidence for the theory that "to avoid bloodshed animals" newly.

Benefits of zebra stripes: Behavior of tabanid flies around zebras and horses
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0210831

Why Do Zebras Have Stripes? To Shoo Away Flies. - The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/02/why-do-zebras-have-stripes-flies/583114/

Research reveals why the zebra got its stripes
https://phys.org/news/2019-02-reveals-zebra-stripes.html

Tim Caro Professor Martin How Dr. team that conducted the research is making full use of video analysis technology, in the United Kingdom of Somerset Abu department conducted an experiment using worms and zebra and a horse with no stripes,. Professor Caro made a paper in 2014 that the horses inhabited by zebras and feet patterns are inhabited by abundant horses, and Abu such as this is difficult to land on the skin of striped patterns Some researchers argued, but there were no studies in which Abu was actually observed to be a zebra.

As a result of analyzing the captured images, Abu was able to detect the zebra without problems, but it was shown that the landing will fail afterwards. When Abu approached the zebra it often passed by as it was or hit the body, which is said to be one quarter success rate of blood sucking compared to a horse without streaks. For this reason researchers said that they believed that the streaks were obstructing Abu's visual system. Abu can get close to a zebra, but it is believed that the streak pattern blurs the low resolution eyebrows when it gets close to the very end.

In addition, when I put on a coat with a striped pattern on a horse with no streaks, it also showed that the resistance to Abu increased.

According to the researchers, Abu who approached a horse wearing a streaky coat did not slow down, it seems that the state of passing over the place and hitting a horse was confirmed. Although I do not know the detailed cause, "Abu has tried to pass through the white part that corresponds to the tree between the tree and the tree, mistaking the black part of the striped pattern as a tree" and "the thing crossed the sight of Abu "The researchers have said there is a possibility.

Paloma Gonzalez-Bellido of the University of Minnesota who studies the vision of insects agrees with the latter idea, and the Squid also mentioned to create a streak pattern to blind the eyes of predators as well. Mr. Bellido says that the "thickness" and "the direction is not uniform" of the striped pattern are important for the blurred effect, and Professor Caro will use the coat which changed the pattern of thickness and direction from now on I'm planning to observe whether the actions of these people will change.

However, Professor Caro to enterprises that make horse-riding products says, "Since we need research first, we do not want clothing for riders to be streaked." Should I wear streaky clothes for mosquito countermeasures? In response to the question, "Before the research results come out, I am cautious about comments and I have not obtained confirmation at the moment." While giving a preface, Professor Caro said, "The striped T-shirt works well I might do it. "