Early research suggests that zebra stripes will generate a small amount of airflow on the skin surface and feel cool. But a new study published in Scientific Reports a few days ago found that these zebra stripes look cool, but I believe they will not help zebras "cool down".
Researchers at Loland University in Hungary and Lund University in Sweden used several metal buckets filled with water to make black, white and gray horse skins, cowhides and striped zebras. I covered the bucket with fur. During the four-month follow-up investigation, the researchers placed these buckets outdoors and continued to monitor the core temperature. The researchers compared the temperature distribution in these buckets with active zebras. It was found that under the same daylight conditions, the temperature characteristics of the metal tube wrapped in zebra skin are similar to those of zebra.
We also found that the temperature of the metal barrel covered with white cowhide was the lowest, while the temperature of the metal barrel covered with black horse leather was the highest. The core temperature of the metal bucket covered with gray horse skin and zebra skin did not change much, and the temperature of the metal bucket covered with zebra skin did not change much. I did not fall. Researchers believe that this indicates that zebra stripes cannot help cooling.
The zebra stripe function has always been the focus of academic circles. Some people speculate that they may interfere with natural enemies, but the exact mechanism is unclear. There is also a view that these stripes are "identity cards" that distinguish zebras from each other.