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-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.
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.