# Dalmations and their spots **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dalmations-and-their-spots/28758 "2000-08-09T22:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dalmations-and-their-spots/28758/1 "2000-08-09T22:22:42Z")
What is the purpose of the spots on dalmations? I always thought spots were for camoflauge, but I cant think of anywhere that is black and white that they could go to hide. Are they aliens? Maybe they are related to the chesire cat. Just something I wonder about. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dalmations-and-their-spots/28758/2 "2000-08-09T22:26:11Z")
A Dalmati **a** n’s spots serve no evolutionary purpose; they are not a product of natural selection. They’re a recessive trait present in all dogs, brought out in Dalmatians by inbreeding. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dalmations-and-their-spots/28758/3 "2000-08-09T22:31:37Z")
We have a dalmatian - Pixel. My husband and I are convinced that she has 666 spots on her - that would explain a lot. Alternate theory: what she lacks in brains she makes up for in spots. But she does have pretty eyes…