White with Black Stripes or Black with White Stripes?

Yeah, you know what's coming...Zebras! I assume I don't have to give a description for these animals, or at least I hope I don't. Did you know that their stripes come in different patterns that are unique to each individual zebra? I didn't really think about it, but it would make me dizzy to try to figure out the patterns. They are African equids, meaning they are part of the horse family. They are most closely related to horses and asses, but unlike their relatives, they have never been truly domesticated. Like horses, zebras sleep while standing up, and only when there is another zebra around to watch their back. Zebras are known for their excellent eyesight and hearing.
There are three species of zebra, including the plains zebra, the Grevy's zebra, and the mountain zebra. Although these species have overlapping ranges, they do not interbreed. The plains zebra, also known as the common zebra or Burcell's zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread of the zebra species. It ranges from the south of Ethiopia all the way down to South Africa. It is about 50-52 inches at the shoulder with a body ranging from 6-8.5 feet in length, and can weigh up to 770 pounds.
The mountain zebra occupies southwest Africa (including South Africa!) and has a sleek coat with a white belly and narrower stripes than the plains zebra. It is a threatened species of zebra due to habitat loss due to agriculture and due to being hunted for their striped pelts. It is slightly larger than the common zebra, weighing up to 820 pounds and being up to 4.9 ft at the shoulder and up to 8.9 feet long. The mountain zebra's stripes do not extend onto their bellies. They tend to live in hot, dry, rocky, mountainous and hilly habitats. Both the mountain zebra and the common zebras live in harems consisting of one stallion with up to six mares and their foals.
The Grevy's zebra, or the Imperial zebra, is the largest wild equid. It is up to 9 ft long and stands up to 5'3" at the shoulder, and can weigh up to 990 lbs. It is named after Jules Grevy, who was a President of the French Third Republic, and is seen as the first real republican President of France. A French Naturalist was the first to describe this species of zebra, so he got to name it after his president...Anyways, its ears are taller ears and narrower stripes than the other zebra species. Apparently, it is more ass-like in appearance as compared to other zebra, owing partially to the fact that it has a brown muzzle. Foals are born with brown and white striping, and the brown darkens to black as they grow older. The Grevy's zebra is mostly confined to Kenya, with isolated populations in Ethiopia. They can survive up to 5 days without water. Also unlike the other two species of zebra, the Grevy's zebra does not live in harems. Rather, their social units comprise of adult females with their immature offspring. Numerous of these social units will gather into herds that are fluid and lack dominance hierarchies. The Grevy's zebra is considered endangered, with a population lower than 2500 wild animals.
As for the question in the title, there is actual scientific debate! It had been thought for a long time that zebras were white animas with black stripes, since some zebras have white underbellies. However, embryological evidence reveals that the animal's background color is black and the white stripes and bellies are additions. The traditional explanation for the evolution of these stripes is camouflage. The vertical striping may help the zebra hide in the grass, which makes sense when you realize that its main predator (lion) is colorblind. Another hypothesis suggests that since zebras are herd animals, all those stripes may confuse predators when there is a large group of zebras moving closely together. It is not known whether zebras can recognize one another by distinct stripe patterns.

Grevy's Zebra

Mountain Zebra

Common Plains Zebra

CHEETAH TIME!!!
Cheetahs prey on zebras! Here is a youtube video that does not end in dinner for a cheetah. Actually, I'm going to have to say that I'm much more terrified of that zebra than of the cheetahs...And judging by the appearance, I'd guess that the angry striped equid is a plains zebra.