Several studies have been conducted on the function of zebra stripes, the results of these researches are sometimes conflicting, especially regarding the fact that the striped coat serves to thermoregulate the animal or not. This means that black is the true color of the zebra's fur while the white stripes are simply areas without pigmentation, it should also be emphasized that the skin of the zebra under the fur is also black. The color is the result of the pigment activation process, of the color black, and the activation of the inhibition, of the white color or better by the lack of pigment. The pattern of coloring of each zebra is determined during the embryonic phase, before the zebra is born, the zebra embryos are completely black, the white stripes appear during the last embryonic stage. The striped pattern is the result of selective pigmentation, the pigments that color the fur are produced by the skin cells, the melanocytes, and some specific chemical messengers that are responsible for the regulation while the melanocytes give the pigment to the zebra skin. How do we know? Genetics provides us with this answer. Just their particular coat gives rise to the question: are zebras black with white stripes or white with black stripes?Īctually zebras are black with white stripes! Zebras are among the most recognizable animals of the African savannah, thanks to their black and white striped coat.
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