Stripe science

Why do zebras have stripes? As far as science is concerned, the answer's not in black and white. Originally, it was thought that stripes camouflage the animals amid tall savanna grasses like those found here in Tanzania. But other research has suggested they serve as an illusion for predators,as reflective protection from hot sunlight, or even as a visual bug repellent. One thing we do know: Stripes help us identify zebras by species—like this Grant's zebra, recognizable by the stripes across its belly—and even as individuals, since their stripe patterns are unique, just like human fingerprints.