A counterargument to countershading
Prof. Mumblebard claims: “Prof. Mumblebard: “Zebra striping dazzles the pouncing lion. The pattern bewilders its assessment of range and speed, causing the predator to miss its target.”
Robin and the Honey Badger respond: “The spotted hyena, the most important predator of zebras, must first choose a vulnerable individual – e.g. a heavily pregnant female – before running it down by endurance. The striping works by overstimulating the hyena’s flicker-sensitive retina and thereby disguising any handicap from which a zebra may suffer. Importantly, this effect occurs before the zebra flees or the hyena attacks. The striping consequently frustrates predation by forestalling the charge rather than by foiling its aim.”
Please join us here at the Bio-edge with your own comments. In the discussion below we encourage links to any evidence supporting either Prof. Mumblebard or Robin and the Honey Badger. Illustrations are welcome but please cite all sources or we may be forced under copyright to delete your comment.