Zebra stripes
By: Tim Caro
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 268
ISBN-13: 9780226411019
Subjects: Color; Zebras; Protective coloration (Biology); Stripes
Description: Why do zebras have stripes? Popular explanations range from camouflage to confusion of predators, social facilitation, and even temperature regulation. It is a challenge to test these proposals on large animals living in the wild, but using a combination of careful observations, simple field experiments, comparative information, and logic, Caro concludes that black-and-white stripes are an adaptation to thwart biting fly attack.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-265) and index.
Table of contents: title: Stripes and equids; title: Predation and crypsis; title: Predation and aposematism; title: Predation and confusion; title: Ectoparasites; title: Intraspecific communication; title: Temperature regulation; title: Multifactorial analyses; title: The case for biting flies.