Why do tigers have stripes?
Quick Answer
Tiger stripes are camouflage: vertical dark bands break up the animal's outline in tall grass and forest shadows, helping it ambush prey.
The Full Story
Tigers are ambush predators that must get within a few metres of prey before charging, so staying unseen is vital. Their vertical black stripes mimic the light and shadow of reeds, long grass and tree trunks, breaking up the tiger's body shape. The orange coat looks bright to humans, but deer and other hoofed prey have two-colour (dichromatic) vision and cannot easily tell orange from green, so to them a tiger blends into vegetation. The stripes are not just in the fur — the skin underneath is striped too. Each tiger's pattern is unique, which lets researchers identify individuals from camera-trap photos.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"See the world through a deer's eyes — and watch a 'bright orange' tiger vanish into the grass."