Plains zebras, Etosha National Park, Namibia Jan 31, 2026

Some animals whisper their way through the wild. Zebras don"t. They show up in high-contrast stripes, act like it"s the most practical outfit ever invented—and somehow, it is. These African equines come in three species. Plains zebras—featured in today"s image from Namibia"s Etosha National Park—wear bold stripes, mountain ones sport pinstripes, and Grévy"s go for the ultra-fine, designer look. No two patterns match, turning every individual into a walking fingerprint. Scientists believe those stripes help confuse predators, deter biting flies and even cool the body by creating tiny air currents.

© Mogens Trolle/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jan 31, 2024Burchells zebras
Jan 31, 2025Plains zebras, South Africa

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 25, 2024Adélie penguins, Antarctica
Sep 24, 2023Fraser River near Mount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
Apr 13, 2025Wat Tang Sai Temple, Thailand
Dec 13, 2024St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
Oct 30, 2023Common raven
Nov 12, 2025Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Nov 5, 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
Jun 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Jun 7, 2025Summit of Pine Mountain, Angeles National Forest, California, United States
May 6, 2025An ultralight aircraft flying over the sands of Namibia
Apr 18, 2024Medieval city walls, Ávila, Spain
Dec 22, 2024Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States
Dec 31, 2023Phra Nakhon Khiri, Thailand
Jan 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
Jul 4, 2025Orosei, Sardinia, Italy
Oct 10, 2025Coral reef surrounding the island of Monuriki, Mamanuca Islands, Fiji
Apr 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Oct 11, 2024Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada
Sep 5, 2023Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
Feb 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
Oct 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
Jan 1, 2024Red fox
Apr 29, 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Mar 18, 2025Red Rocks, Sedona, Arizona, United States
Jul 14, 2025Young blue shark
Nov 16, 2024Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
Jan 5, 2025Plum-headed parakeet
Jan 22, 2026Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czechia
Dec 11, 2025The summit of Mount Everest at sunset, seen from Renjo La, Nepal
Sep 2, 2025Camel thorn trees, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia