Rodents have evolved different stripe patterns, and the way these patterns develop has influenced their diversity. By studying museum specimens, researchers found that rodents have stripes that vary in number, color, and position. Using a model based on African striped mice, they discovered that small changes in development can lead to different stripe patterns. While there are constraints on where the stripes can be positioned, the overall diversity of patterns can be explained by a single developmental process. This study shows that the way stripes form in rodents plays a significant role in their evolution.