If the white stripes on a zebra are areas where pigment production is suppressed, what is the generally accepted underlying base coat color?
Answer
Black or dark brown
The scientific consensus regarding the zebra's coat indicates that the pattern is not an addition of white stripes onto a dark animal, but rather the opposite. The underlying or base coloration of the zebra is inherently dark, usually approximating black or a very dark brown. The white stripes manifest in those specific regions where the genetic mechanism responsible for producing pigment—melanin—is actively suppressed or turned off during the animal's development. Therefore, the visual effect seen is dark pigmentation dominating, with controlled suppression creating the contrasting white markings.
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