Flying Squid@lemmy.world to interestingasfuck@lemmy.world · edit-23 months agoZebra optical illusion (National Geographic photo of the year in 2018)lemmy.worldimagemessage-square10fedilinkarrow-up1293
arrow-up1293imageZebra optical illusion (National Geographic photo of the year in 2018)lemmy.worldFlying Squid@lemmy.world to interestingasfuck@lemmy.world · edit-23 months agomessage-square10fedilink
minus-squareGork@lemm.eelinkfedilinkarrow-up7·3 months agoWait do Zebras have predators from above where this camo makes sense to have?
minus-squarescutiger@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up3·3 months agoHave you been had by the illusion, or is this a joke? The horsey shapes are shadows. The actual zebras are the stripey bits at their feet.
minus-squareGork@lemm.eelinkfedilinkarrow-up5·3 months agoNot a joke, not been had. An unwary predator would dive bomb the shadow instead of the zebra if attacking from above.
minus-squarejj4211@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up3·3 months agoI think the point is that while this photograph kind of works (from above, at a distance), generally from ground level it doesn’t. So if it only works from above, then is it really useful as a camouflage? In fact, a 2016 study concludes that the camouflage hypothesis doesn’t seem to carry weight: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/zebra-stripes-not-camouflage-new-study-finds
minus-squareKlear@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up1·3 months ago…and there was a study showing that horses wearing a striped pattern cover had fewer flies land on them.
Wait do Zebras have predators from above where this camo makes sense to have?
Have you been had by the illusion, or is this a joke? The horsey shapes are shadows. The actual zebras are the stripey bits at their feet.
Not a joke, not been had. An unwary predator would dive bomb the shadow instead of the zebra if attacking from above.
I think the point is that while this photograph kind of works (from above, at a distance), generally from ground level it doesn’t. So if it only works from above, then is it really useful as a camouflage?
In fact, a 2016 study concludes that the camouflage hypothesis doesn’t seem to carry weight: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/zebra-stripes-not-camouflage-new-study-finds
…and there was a study showing that horses wearing a striped pattern cover had fewer flies land on them.