The function of zebra stripes

@article{Caro2014TheFO,
  title={The function of zebra stripes},
  author={Tim Caro and Amanda S. Izzo and Robert C. Reiner and Hannah Walker and Theodore Stankowich},
  journal={Nature Communications},
  year={2014},
  volume={5},
  url={https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:9849814}
}
The authors match variation in striping of equid species and subspecies to geographic range overlap of environmental variables in multifactor models controlling for phylogeny and find that biting fly avoidance best explains the presence of stripes in equids.
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120 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
7
Background Citations
30
Methods Citations
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120 Citations

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76 References

The possible fitness benefits of striped coat coloration for zebra

Although stripes apparently increase zebra visibility in daylight, it is at least plausible that they provide effective cryptic protection from predators in poor light, although critical testing has not been attempted.

Ecological and behavioral correlates of coloration in artiodactyls: systematic analyses of conventional hypotheses

There is strong support for hypotheses suggesting even-toed ungulates turn lighter in winter to aid in concealment or perhaps thermoregulation, striped coats in adults and spotted pelage in young act as camouflage, side bands and dark faces assist in communication, and dark pelage coloration is most common in species living in the tropics.

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