• Question: Are zebras white with black stripes or black with white sripes?

    Asked by Maire to Ahmed, Francesca, George, James, Nitheen on 13 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by Rachel.
    • Photo: James Sullivan

      James Sullivan answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      I didnt know – but my good friend google tells me this –

      Many zoologists would say that a zebra is white because its stripes end towards the belly and the belly is mostly white. Others would say that a zebra is black because if you shaved all the fur off a zebra the skin is mostly black. So it really depends on how you want to look at it.

    • Photo: Francesca Paradisi

      Francesca Paradisi answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      Very good answer from James/Google! I think they are just stripy! A bit is white and a bit is black!

    • Photo: Nitheen Kaperi

      Nitheen Kaperi answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      Hi Maire,

      White stripes on black.
      People argue over this but embryological studies confirmed that animal’s original (background) color is black with white stripes as additives.

    • Photo: Ahmed Osman

      Ahmed Osman answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      Hi Marie,
      Zebras (members of the horse family), are native to central and southern Africa. They are black with white vertical stripes on the head, neck, forequarters, and main body, usually with horizontal stripes at the rear and on the legs of the animal.
      This makes sense since the pattern is a result of pigment activation (black) and inhibition (white). That means black is the actual colour of the fur, and the white patches are simply the areas that lack pigmentation

      Hope it is clear
      Ahmed

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