What led the zebra to develop its stripes?

Scientists at the University of California have found zebra in cool climates have fewer stripes than those in warm climates.

Scientists at the University of California have found zebra in cool climates have fewer stripes than those in warm climates.

What led the zebra to develop its stripes?

Did the pattern help it evade predators?

Or, perhaps, make it easier for them to identify each other?

Well, scientists at the University of California have found zebra in cool climates have fewer stripes than those in warm climates, leading them to suggest striping may be related to temperature regulation.

Study author, Doctor Brenda Larison, spoke with Phillippa Carisbrooke about the puzzle.

She began by outlining just how varied zebra striping can be.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)