Is a Zebra .....

[broncofan09]

black with white stripes or white with black stripes.

[OZZIEOHIO]

yes to both.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

actually, technically it is white with black stripes, acording to animal shows.

[vids4ckcrash]

black with white stripes or white with black stripes.

According to many on SEOPS, it does not matter as all of them are nearly blind anyway.

[caglewis]

actually, technically it is white with black stripes, acording to animal shows.

That's what I remember hearing, too, YTB - although my "hearing" has been seriously compromised by sinus congestion recently, and my eyesight is always bad.
NO pigmentation is the "default setting", so the degree and placement of any pigmentation [black coloring] is the variable factor of each zebra's heredity.

[The Instructor]

What color is a zebra?

­Genetics determine the variety of stripes in zebras. While the specific processing of determining this striping pattern isn't known, it has something to do with selective pigmentation. Melanocyte skin cells produce the pigments that color the fur. Certain chemical messengers regulate which melanocytes deliver their pigment to the zebra [source: Camazine]. Mathematical models haven't been able to accurately simulate the development of the pattern, but we do know that it takes place during the embryonic phase [source: The Development of Zebra Striping Pattern].

Speaking of stripes, that brings us to the age-old question: What color is a zebra? If you research this answer, you'll quickly discover many conflicting perspectives. But Lisa Smith, Curator of Large Mammals at Zoo Atlanta, reports that the coat is "often described as black with white stripes." This makes sense since the pattern is a result of pigment activation (black) and inhibition (white). That means black is the actual color of the fur, and the white patches are simply the areas that lack pigmentation [source: Camazine]. To top it off, most zebras have dark skin beneath their fur [source: Smith].


Although zebras share similar stripe patterns and the same general appearance, a closer examination of their coats reveals distinct differences among the three existing species:


Burchell's/plains zebras (Equus burchelli): These are the most populous zebra species, found in northern Kenya. Their broader stripes fade to gray, called shadow striping, as they move down the body. Their legs feature a lot of white as well.

Grevy's zebras (Equus greyvi): These zebras have the largest build and are found in northern Kenya as well. They have narrower stripes with definitive black stripes slicing down the middle of their backs and white bellies. Because drought and an increasing human population have severely reduced their numbers, the World Conservation Union lists Grevy's zebra as an endangered species [source: National Zoo].

Mountain zebras (Equus zebra): Found in southern Angola and Namibia, mountain zebras are the least common of the species. A square flap of skin on their throats distinguish these zebras from the other two species. They also sport wide stripes against a cream-colored background.

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammal ... ripes1.htm

[OZZIEOHIO]

actually, technically it is white with black stripes, acording to animal shows

.

Wrong

Speaking of stripes, that brings us to the age-old question: What color is a zebra? If you research this answer, you'll quickly discover many conflicting perspectives. But Lisa Smith, Curator of Large Mammals at Zoo Atlanta, reports that the coat is "often described as black with white stripes." This makes sense since the pattern is a result of pigment activation (black) and inhibition (white). That means black is the actual color of the fur, and the white patches are simply the areas that lack pigmentation [source: Camazine]. To top it off, most zebras have dark skin beneath their fur [source: Smith].

[swbaseballfan]

now that we have this figured out, what color was michale jackson?

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

what can i say, sue marlen perkins, and big jim, and the outdoor planet. i'll never watch an ole rerun of mutual of omaha's wild kingdom again, lol.

[my2cents]

now that we have this figured out, what color was michale jackson?

Old MJ or young MJ?

[swbaseballfan]

now that we have this figured out, what color was michale jackson?

Old MJ or young MJ?

[OZZIEOHIO]

what can i say, sue marlen perkins, and big jim, and the outdoor planet. i'll never watch an ole rerun of mutual of omaha's wild kingdom again, lol.

[BubbleGumTiger]

A zebra died and went to heaven and he asked St Pete, am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes. St Pete said let me ask the Lord which he did and he went back to the zebra and told him the Lord said you are what you are. If you were black with white stripes the Lord would have said, you is what you is......

[dimedrop4]

A zebra died and went to heaven and he asked St Pete, am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes. St Pete said let me ask the Lord which he did and he went back to the zebra and told him the Lord said you are what you are. If you were black with white stripes the Lord would have said, you is what you is......

I literally laughed out loud and its 3 in the morning....hope I didn't wake the kids up!!!

[Charley Hustle]

A zebra died and went to heaven and he asked St Pete, am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes. St Pete said let me ask the Lord which he did and he went back to the zebra and told him the Lord said you are what you are. If you were black with white stripes the Lord would have said, you is what you is......

[OZZIEOHIO]

[Orange and Brown]

black with white stripes or white with black stripes.

According to many on SEOPS, it does not matter as all of them are nearly blind anyway.