What color are zebras?

As each human has unique and unrepeatable fingerprints, every zebra's stripe pattern is also exceptional. The underbelly of these animals is usually white, that's why many people believe zebras to be white with black stripes. But the color of zebras' underbelly turned out not to be the determinant! Actually, it's all about the genetics and selective pigmentation.

Melanocyte skin cells activate the pigments that color the fur. Certain chemical messengers regulate which melanocytes deliver their pigment to the zebra. The unique zebras' pattern is a result of pigment activation (black) and inhibition (white). That means all zebras have dark fur, and the white areas just lack coloration, creating these beautiful and ingenious patterns.

More Info: animals.howstuffworks.com

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

99 Comments

markamore

If this is true, then why is the underbelly white?

bluej

The belly being white tells me that the black stripes are the visitors....

tdelisi

Isn't it a bit funny when facts are different than what we think and we still resist the fact?

John G. Barnett

Exactly as Mark says ... the explanation is true of all pigmentation or lack of in all mammals and all hair and skin of all mammals. The natural state of any given part of the animal is gentically determined, of course. Neither active or inactive is especially natural and each part is set by the genetics. So, this explanation and answer does not translate into the more graphic description the question is really about ... whether the resulting design of these set patterns looks more one way or the other.

Nina Kamwene

WOW! I did not know that, black with white stripes, I thought it was both stripes.

catmom

The zebras are very pretty.

Raymond Hodge

Vance Duncan, And white belly is what?

Puppermom

Dang it all! I was being 🙄🙃

Vance Duncan

Black mouth is telling

Kris-Ann Ehrich

Zebra skins are usually cream with brown stripes

Player

This is not a black and white question.

Patrick Toomer

2 options are the same - black and white also white and black. What is the difference?

Raymond Cardona

Great question thanks QC I learned something new today Bonnie

j collins

Interesting 😂

Alec Boreham

WRONG AGAIN.Zebras are generally thought to have white coats with black (sometimes brown) stripes. That's because if you look at most zebras, the stripes end on their belly and toward the inside of the legs, and the rest is all white