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Asked by tkidner to Nazim, Catherine, Leila on 14 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by edwardf.
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Leila Battison answered on 12 Mar 2012:
Never say never in science! They might be rare, but you can probably find something that breaks the rules!
Flamingoes are pink, because they live on a special diet of microorganisms that turns their feathers pink.
Zebras are stripy, probably because it helps keep the flies away (scientists did a study where they made model zebras out of sticky plastic and measured how many flies stuck to them). Tigers are stripy because it helps keep them camouflaged in the shade of the jungle.
Lost of animals have spots: butterflies, cheetahs, and peacocks all have spots. These might provide camouflage, but sometimes they are used to look like eyes, so it seems like the animal is always looking at you!
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Catherine Rix answered on 12 Mar 2012:
Animals which have predators are more likely to survive if it’s hard to see them so a lot of animals have colours which help them to blend into their background environment. For animals that are hunters its also good if their prey can’t see them coming.
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Nazim Bharmal answered on 14 Mar 2012:
A lot of them are! Pigs are pink, Zebras stripy, and leopards have many spots. But pink is not common because most animals have fur or feathers to protect their skin which is the pink bit. Stripes are a form of camouflage that works well only in certain places like the grasslands of Africa. Spots are probably most common, fish have them as well as many birds (look for song thrushes in any English city).
I can’t actually think of an animal that is all three at the same time, however.
Comments
tkidner commented on :
awesome
marcusw commented on :
but tigers are stripy, aren’t they?
marcusw commented on :
leopards are spotty
zebras are stripy
pigs are pink