Zebra stripes and tiger stripes: the spatial frequency distribution of the pattern compared to that of the background is significant in display and crypsis |
| |
| Authors: | D GODFREY J N LYTHGOE† ‡ D A RUMBALL § |
| |
| Institution: | *Atmospheric Physics Group, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ;†Department of Zoology, Bristol University, Woodland Road, Bristol BS6 6TJ;§22 Chalkdell Path, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 2LG, U.K.;‡Please send correspondence to Dr Lythgoe. |
| |
| Abstract: | Some striped animals are camouflaged in their natural environment, whereas others are conspicuous. Mammals are known to have spatial frequency analysers in their visual mechanism, and it is suggested that the spatial characteristics of a striped pattern are different in camouflaged and conspicuous animals. Fourier analysis of the stripes of the zebra shows spatial frequencies in the pattern that are unlikely to be present so strongly in their natural background scene. A similar analysis of the camouflaging stripes of a tiger show that the distribution of spatial frequencies are similar to that in the background scene. |
| |
| Keywords: | Crypsis display tiger zebra Fourier analysis |
|
|
