Ever notice how many animals have lighter fur on their bellies than on their backs? Think about it. Cats and dogs often have lighter-colored bellies. Deer and foxes. Wolves. Coyotes. Chipmunks. You get the idea. But Why? We can understand, for example, why a zebra has stripes–stand it in among a clump of trees or grasses and it is well camouflaged. The same holds true for other fur patterns. They are ways of fitting in so that you won’t easily be seen. A pale belly， in fact, serves the same function–it helps you blend into your background rather than stand out.