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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAll of a zebra\u2019s fur, both black and white, grows from follicles that contain melanocyte cells. (Melanin is a dark pigment primarily responsible for skin color. Darker skin tones tones have more melanosomes present than lighter skin tones. Functionally, melanin serves as protection against UV radiation.) These cells are are present in all animals, and they\u2019re primarily responsible for generating the pigment that gives color to skin and hair. Melanocyte cells produce melanin \u2014 the pigment \u2014 that is outwardly visible. In zebras, chemical messengers determine which melanocytes deliver pigment to which section of fur and creates the zebra\u2019s black and white pattern. It\u2019s interesting that the white fur on a zebra represents an absence<\/em> of melanin\u2026.therefore, black is the \u201cdefault\u201d color of a zebra. If you shaved all the fur off a zebra, there would be no stripes \u2014 it would be an all-black animal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So there you have it! Maybe a more interesting question is why do zebras have stripes at all? Turns out that that\u2019s a much harder question \u2014 no one is really sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There seems to be dozens of theories as to why they have stripes\u2026 one theory that\u2019s kind of interesting is that stripes provide protection from biting flies. A recent study found that striping on animals is more common in areas rife with biting flies \u2014 that may mean that biting flies struggle to see a striped or black-and-white surface as a safe place to land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another interesting theory is that of thermoregulation whose argument is based on the fact that black stripes absorb heat to warm zebras in the morning chill and white stripes reflect the sun to cool zebras in the afternoon heat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So we do know what color a zebra is, but we don\u2019t know why they have stripes. I read an article that suggested using zebras as a metaphor for racial harmony. Actually, that sounds like a good idea to me \u2014 after all, black or white, the footprints left in the dirt are the same\u2026. It\u2019s funny how the riddles and jokes we thought was so funny as a kid are still just as funny to our kids, and grandkids. Emily asked \u201cwhat\u2019s black and white and red all over?\u201d on one of her recent … Continue reading
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