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Question
#50275. stevenccfan
asks:
Is a zebra white with black stripes or black with white stripes?
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Valf
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It could be either. Not only is the hair black and white, its skin is actually black and white too.
Aug 15 04, 9:59 AM
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gmackematix
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The logical answer (in black and white) is yes.
Another answer would be that perception of stripes depends on their background. A zebra lying in daylit snow is white with black stripes.
A zebra at night appears black with white stripes. Zebras against a background of other colours could be seen as either.
Also see Q#30341
Aug 16 04, 6:28 PM
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Sofie 
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Zebras are either white with black stripes, or black with white stripes: Gould, S. J. (1983) Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes: Further Reflections in Natural History. New York: W. W. Norton and Company.
In particular refer to Chapter 29: How the Zebra Gets Its Stripes. One of the strongest pieces of evidence for black with white stripes, rather than white with black stripes comes from abnormal zebras where the 'stripes' form as dots and blotches rather than lines. These appear as white blotches on a black background, which is only understandable if it is normally a black animal with white stripes. An interesting picture of this phenomenon can be found here:
 http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Africa/Kenya/photo33224.htm
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra#_note-0
Feb 03 07, 2:56 PM
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