Plains zebra

Status

Near Threatened

Classification

Mammal

Exhibit

African Plains

Unique & Effective Stripes

You can spot a zebras by their bold black-and-white stripe pattern, which are like human fingerprints, unique and no two are exactly alike. Zebras' stripes help them avoid predators by breaking up their outlines, and discourage flies from biting them.

Black or White Stripes?

A zebra's stripes come from a genetic process called selective pigmentation, which means black is the predominant, actual color pigmentation of the zebras coat. The part of the coat that does not contain pigmentation appears as the white stripes and underbelly-- so, zebras are black with white stripes!