Concordance on zebra stripes is not black and white

Abstract

We agree that the results of Larisonet al.[1]andCaroet al.[2] are largely congruent—however, we remain divided on their interpretation. Both papers assessed a number of variables for an association with striping. Larisonet al.[1] found temperature, specifically isothermality and the coldest temperature of the coldest quarter, to be the primary predictor of the degree of striping in plains zebra, with other climate and habitat variables playing very minor roles.