![]() ![]() "We know that in situations where stripes are apparent in the hair, they are not apparent in skin," Barsh says, citing domestic cats, domestic dogs, horses, zebras, and cheetahs as examples. A shaved zebra, without any stripes, could be almost unrecognizable as an all-black animal. ![]() Beneath all that fur, zebras have black skin, too. The two systems are controlled by different genes, hormones, and other factors, says Barsh, who studies the genetics of animal color patterns. Since white stripes only exist because pigment is denied, black is understood to be the default colour of a zebra. Melanocytes that live between follicles control skin color, says Greg Barsh, a geneticist at Hudson Alpha Biotechnology Institute in Huntsville, Alabama. The short answer is it depends on the animal.Īll mammalian hair color is dictated by melanin-producing cells, called melanocytes, that live within hair follicles. ![]() than those of the Cape Mountain Zebra, but within the species, stripes have no. The patterns formed by these stripes are unique to each individual which is why you will hear people say that no two zebras are completely the same. The Zebra and the San Peoples have coexisted in the Southeast African. ( Before and After: See Animals Change Their Coats for Winter.)īut what does animal skin look like under fur or hair-especially strikingly patterned animals such as big cats and zebras? Reader Christian Meyer asked Weird Animal Question of the Week to investigate. Introduction The striking black and white colours of the coat of the Burchell’s zebra are breath taking. Spring is coming, and as some of us prepare to trade snowsuits for swimsuits, we may find a few extra pounds under our winter coats.Īnimals are smart. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |