This International Zebra Day, meet a spotted zebra. This individual, photographed in Africa’s Masai Mara, exhibits darker-than-usual pigmentation and a spotted coat—the result of a rare genetic mutation affecting its melanin production. Zebras like the one pictured here are extremely uncommon. Scientists think that such mutations can hinder an individual’s chance at survival, making hiding from predators much more difficult.
Photo: Ashish J Parmar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
via amnhnyc
