Ms. Barrett said...
Question from Joe G. (HMS pd. 8)

I don't understand exactly how the stripe pattern of the zebra acts as camouflage. I don't think it would work well. Is it like a trick on the eyes much like the military's new digital camouflage?
The black and white stripes of a zebra are a type of disruptive patterning. They are hard to see by a Lion (Lions are color blind). So they have a type of camoflauge that protects them from being a Lion's dinner. Some say that the stripe pattern discourages biting insects. Finally the unique stripe patterns help mates identify each other.
--Tammy Schmidt, Team Member-St. Louis Zoo