The reason for the zebra’s bold black and white stripes has long confounded scientists, with ideas proposed ranging from camouflage to confusing lions as a herd escaped.
However, in a study published in the journal Nature Communications scientists now believe they have found the answer – avoiding flies.
After analysing the geographic and environmental factors of each hypothesis, the team, led by Tim Caro, found that the ranges of the three most distinctively stripes zebra species (Equus burchelli, E. zebra, and E. grevyi) overlapped almost perfectly with areas where horse flies and tsetsi flies are prevalent.
These biting flies are known to torment equine species in the regions where zebras are most commonly found, and the black and white stripes appear to interfere with the flies’ vision by reflecting light in multiple directions.
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They are a little late on this. I remember that back in the 1950’s it was promoted that the stripes made zebras ” invisible or near so” to flies. This was given as a reason that hanging a strip curtain in kitchen doorways and front doors helped keep flies at bay.