With a white coat spotted with brown caused by a genetic mutation, young zebras can present many dangers in the wild.
A guide from Kenya’s Maasai Mara reserve discovered a young zebra with an unusual color of fur and named it Tira, IFL Science reported on September 17. “We heard a similar case a few years ago, but this zebra has retained its zebra stripes and tousled tail. Meanwhile, Tira’s pattern turns to polka dots,” the program representative said. Wildest Africa shares on social networks.
Tira may have a genetic mutation and melanism which causes the melanoma to become excessive. The color of her dress was exceptionally varied. Zebras typically have stripes around their backs and legs, and a completely white belly. However, Tira has a brown belly spotted with white with a brown back. This is not the first time that zebras have been infected with melanism. Professor Jonathan Bard described a similar case of spotted hair in 1977.
Zebras can be recognized by body patterns. Each child’s pattern is not the same, similar to human fingerprints. In fact, there are three species of zebra, each with its own unique pattern, from the design to the placement of the zebra stripes. Scientists believe that the striped coat is not used to camouflage but to repel buffalo flies and to avoid being bitten by them.
Tira can be in danger with a strange cloak. Zebras infected with melanism will become prominent in herds, especially when they are young. At this time, they easily become the target of lions and hyenas.
Melanism appears in many animals, the most common of which is the leopard. The opposite of melanism is albino, when the amount of melanin is either missing or completely gone. Albinism is more common than melanism.
