Thermoregulation has long been suggested by scientists as the function of zebra stripes. The basic idea is that black stripes would absorb heat in the morning and warm up zebras, whereas white stripes reflect light more and could thus help cool zebras as they graze for hours in the blazing sun.

How did zebras really get their stripes?

Scientists have long wondered why zebras wear striped coats and a 2014 study might have finally supplied the answer: biting flies like glossinids (tsetse flies) and tabanids (horseflies) appear to be the “evolutionary driver” of the zebra's stripes.

Do zebra stripes confuse predators?

Some biologists also believe the zebra's stripes may be helpful when zebras run in a herd. When a large number of zebras move together, their stripes could appear to be one large animal running. This illusion may confuse predators, making it difficult for them to pick out a single animal to attack.