Re:Zebras’ stripes discourage biting flies from landing
by the_af on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @10:21PM
(#19214239)
> Zebras have stripes because their stripes shoo away flies, which helped previous generations of zebras who had stripes thrive and pass their genes forward.
Not necessarily. A trait may also be there simply because it's not actively harmful, or maybe because it's a useless side-effect of another trait that is beneficial.
It may be that zebras have stripes because they are not harmful enough to prevent them from passing their genes forward. (of course, in this particular case the flies hypothesis seems more likely).
Not necessarily. A trait may also be there simply because it's not actively harmful, or maybe because it's a useless side-effect of another trait that is beneficial.
It may be that zebras have stripes because they are not harmful enough to prevent them from passing their genes forward. (of course, in this particular case the flies hypothesis seems more likely).