A funny experiment maybe solved the mystery of zebra stripes

Why zebras evolved their characteristic black-and-white stripes has been the subject of decades of debate among scientists.

Scientists placed differently painted horses (zebras) in a field 

Now researchers from Hungary and Sweden claim to have solved the mystery.

The stripes, they say, came about to keep away blood-sucking flies.

They report in the Journal of Experimental Biology that this pattern of narrow stripes makes zebras "unattractive" to the flies.

To support their theory the scientists made an experiment with several artificial horses (zebras), with different kinds of patterns on their fur. And apparently the one with the characteristic zebra stripes was the least attractive for blood-sucking flies, which usually 'attack' many animals, like horses, cows and also zebras.

for further information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/16944753

r.s.