They disguise zebras with horses to scare flies … and it works – 02/20/2019



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The mystery of the welts continues to attract scientists. Although this may seem like an unimportant entertainment, studies that attempt to provide new information about the reasons and are published with relative frequency are published in journals. effects of the body design of these African equids.

A new study published by experts from the Universities of California at Davis (United States) and Bristol (UK) in the journal PLOS One (February 20) provides curious data on the hypothesis that currently seems more consolidated in this field.

According to one study, zebra strips scare insects such as flies and horseflies. Now the reason was known.

According to one study, zebra strips scare insects such as flies and horseflies. Now the reason was known.

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So, following the line of previous studies that indicated that stripes of zebras scare insects like flies and horseflies (In both cases, causing discomfort and danger of diseases for horses), the authors of the new research have attempted to discover how and why this protective process meant to be enhanced by evolution occurs.

There is new evidence on the motives and effects of body drawing of these African equids.

There is new evidence on the motives and effects of body drawing of these African equids.

The team led by Tim Caro and Martin How recalls that until now, it has not been possible to demonstrate experimentally any of the other hypotheses studied, including camouflage, visual confusion of large predators, communication between individuals of the same species and thermal insulation.

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The bands of zebras scare insects like flies and flies. (Photo: AP)

The bands of zebras scare insects like flies and flies. (Photo: AP)

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The authors of the study covered different horses with skins and fabrics of different colors and designs, and calculated insect attacks in each case.

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To experimentally demonstrate the protection against insect bites, the authors of the new study They compared the behavior of flies and horseflies in horses covered with skins or fabrics of different colors and designs

As a result, the success of the bites was only a quarter of that observed in normal horses (Photo: EFE)

As a result, the success of the bites was only a quarter of that observed in normal horses (Photo: EFE)

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The results of the experiment on the costumes indicate that flies attacked with a rhythm similar to that of normal-looking horses and those who appeared to be zebras; however, in the case of the supposed zebras, the success of the bites it was only a quarter of the observed in normal horses.

They compared the behavior of flies and horseflies in horses covered with skins or fabrics of different colors and patterns. (EFE)

They compared the behavior of flies and horseflies in horses covered with skins or fabrics of different colors and patterns. (EFE)

Similarly, flies stung the head and body parts of horses and zebras, but They seemed to have a hard time landing and poking on their striped backs.

In the case of the supposed zebras, the success of the bites was only a quarter of that observed in normal horses.

In the case of the supposed zebras, the success of the bites was only a quarter of that observed in normal horses.

"Overall, these results indicate that the bands do not deter flies from approaching zebras, but that they avoid the actual landing and, therefore, reduce the number of flies that feed successfully. This finding provides additional support for the badumption that the evolutionary benefit of zebra is to reduce predatory fly bites, "says the informative summary published by the University of California at Davis via the Eurekalert scientific information portal.

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Similarly, flies stung the heads and body parts of horses and zebras, but appeared to have difficulty landing and pricking on their striped backs. (Photo: AP)

Similarly, flies stung the heads and body parts of horses and zebras, but appeared to have difficulty landing and pricking on their striped backs. (Photo: AP)

The authors consider that their curious experience supports the hypothesis that stripes of zebras are part of an evolutionary process this allows these animals to reduce flying insect bites in zebras.

Source: The Vanguardia

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