Tira is not the only zebra with this rare condition. National Geographic photographer Frank Liu posted a few additional photographs of this polka-dotted zebra to his Instagram page along with this video: ![]() In the case of Tira and other pseudomelanistic zebras, Barsh believes the melanocytes are all there, but the melanin itself, for some reason, does not manifest correctly as stripes. In zebras, melanocytes are uniformly distributed throughout their skin, so that a shaved zebra would be completely black. “There are a variety of mutations that can disturb the process of melanin synthesis, and in all of those disorders, the melanocytes are believed to be normally distributed, but the melanin they make is abnormal,” Greg Barsh, a geneticist at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, says by email. Specialized cells called melanocytes produce melanin, the red, yellow, brown, or black pigment that determines hair and skin cell color in mammals. This genetic mutation can cause abnormal stripe patterns: ![]() Ren Larison, a biologist studying the evolution of zebra stripes at the University of California, Los Angeles, told National Geographic that Tira has a condition called pseudomelanism. Tira told the Kenyan outlet Daily Nation, "At first I thought it was a zebra that had been captured and painted or marked for purposes of migration. The zebra was named Tira after Antony Tira, a tour guide and photographer at the reserve who first spotted the rare animal. This is a genuine photograph of a zebra born at the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in 2019. But at least we can take solace in the certainty that zebras will always have stripes, right?Įnter a photograph supposedly showing a zebra that was born with "polka dots" instead of stripes: OK, so maybe the animal kingdom still has a few surprises up its sleeves. For instance, bulls always have two horns (except this three-horned cow), puppy tails are found on the animals' rear (except for this " unicorn" puppy), fish can only survive in water (except for this " snakehead" species), and tarantulas absolutely cannot swim (except for the ones that can). We are currently spinning only in the lovely Catskills of Sullivan County, New York, but expanding soon, so please reach out if you are interested having us for events elsewhere in the Catskills, the Hudson Valley, Poconos or any other neighboring areas.There are a few things that we know for certain about the animal kingdom. It’s the PERFECT addition to a wedding, graduation party, birthday party or just any moment worthy of celebration (and sometimes that’s just making it through a regular Wednesday). It really is that special little something that brightens everyone’s day and adds a nostalgic element of surprise. I hope you will choose to have Spotted Zebra Cotton Candy at your next event. I LOVE helping people celebrate life and making them feel special. I originally wanted to call my cotton candy company “Sugar Tits” (I’d been dealing with breast cancer & was showing my chichis to the boys at radiation every day, so why not?!). I love all videos that give animals a human voice (the snarkier, the better). ![]() I think birthdays should be celebrated by the season & not just a single day. I love corny “dad jokes” (you’ve been warned). I am a full-time Sullivan County resident. Little did I know how many smiles spinning cotton candy for others would bring to me in turn. Joy seemed to be in short supply in so many lives throughout 20 that I decided to do just a tiny little part in bringing smiles to more people. I started Spotted Zebra as a way to spread joy.
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