Equus quagga quagga photo © Frederick York

Extinct quagga a dark horse at several levels

The extinct quagga was mainly brown, offset by whitish forelegs. This contrast suggests that, unlike all other zebras but like Asian wild asses, its pigmentation was adapted to look conspicuous in the field. It is even possible that – like the coexisting black wildebeest – its brown fur possessed an anti-sheen effect that made its flanks look almost black.

Robin and the Honey Badger, 15 March 2016