Final answer:
An animal with vertical stripes on its breast is likely to exhibit camouflage that helps it blend into environments with light and shade patterns, like grassy areas, conferring a survival advantage against predation.
Step-by-step explanation:
An animal that has breast covering with light and dark vertical stripes would likely live in an environment where such coloration provides a survival advantage. This striping is an example of camouflage, where animals use color and pattern to blend into their surroundings and avoid predation. A notable example of this can be seen in zebras, whose stripes create a visual confusion for predators, making it hard to distinguish individual animals, especially when they are in a group. This is particularly effective in grassy or dense environments where light and shade patterns are commonly found, as the stripes mimic the environment and break up the outline of the animal.
Camouflage is a critical aspect of survival for many species, leading to varying patterns and colors that suit their habitats. This form of adaptive coloration helps animals to hide from predators or sneak up on prey, which is a vital part of natural selection. Over time, species that are better camouflaged will survive and reproduce, passing on their genes for effective camouflage to their offspring, as discussed in the given reference that describes how some beetles have evolved coloration that helps them remain hidden on dark tree trunks.