Why do zebras have stripes?

Zebras have stripes mostly because the pattern helps protect them from biting flies. Many flies struggle to land on a striped coat, so zebras are bitten less often and are less likely to catch dangerous fly-borne diseases.

Scientists tested this by putting zebra-patterned covers on horses and filming insects close up. The flies still approached, but the black-and-white bands seemed to scramble the light cues they use for landing.