...Henri Mouy ABSTRACT The function of zebra stripes has long puzzled biologists: contrasted and conspicuous colours are unusual in mammals. The puzzle appears solved: two lines of evidence indicate that they evolved as a protection against biting flies, the geographical coincidence of stripes...

...Tim Caro; Eva Fogg; Tamasin Stephens-Collins; Matteo Santon; Martin J. How ABSTRACT Stripes deter horseflies (tabanids) from landing on zebras and, while several mechanisms have been proposed, these hypotheses have yet to be tested satisfactorily. Here, we investigated three possible visual...