Are Zebras...

[Bunny Summers]

Most people will say that they are white with black stripes. However, a few zoological sites I've visited suggest that their skins are actually black underneath the fur:

Zebras are generally considered to have white coats with black stripes. You can see why in many zebras, because the stripes end on the sides or on the legs, and the rest of the coat is white. But there are many variations (caused by genetics), and sometimes a zebra's pattern can be the reverse: a black coat with white stripes. And the stripes aren't always black—sometimes they are dark brown, and the Burchell's zebra (below, to the left) has light brown stripes in between its black stripes!


It actually depends on how you define it. Zebras have black skin, so some people believe that the "stripes" are white, and the black is the natural coat color. Another way of looking at it is that zebras have a coat that is just a combination of black and white in alternating bands of different patterns depending on the species or subspecies. Some have thicker black lines than white and some have thicker white lines.

Interestingly enough, people of Africa tend to think of zebras as black animals with white stripes whereas people outside Africa consider them as white animals with black stripes!

[SkoolHater]

Ooooooooo there black underneath.COOL!


would have never known that if it wasn't for bunny summers...

[Pickles the Cat]

It's like science class! Thanks Bunny!

[Cuckoowackyzilla]

Some zebras can be black with white stripes, pretty rare. Even polka dotted.

I'm saying white with black stripes because they're mostly found that way.