LEARN SOMETHING NEW EACH WEEK ON OUR WORLD OF WONDER PAGES! This fancy goldfish has upward-pointing eyes Exploring the realms of history, science, nature and technology above two large fluid- ANIMAL EYES filled sacs. The eyes of animals generally work in much the same way as human eyes do. But many animals have specialized ways of seeing that allow them to survive in particular environments. Eagle eyes Bubble Eagles can see four to five times farther than humans (which is where eye the term “eagle eye” comes from). They can also see more shades goldfish and contrasts. They can even see ultraviolet (UV) light. Eagle eye 20/5 vision Human eye 20/20 vision aqueous lens retina central lens retina body fovea central Crocodile fovea cornea cornea Crocodile tears iris The phrase “crocodile tears” is used iris to describe someone who is faking optic sadness. Crocodiles do not weep, optic nerve nerve but they do produce tears to help vitreous body aqueous body vitreous body lubricate and clean their eyes. While underwater, a protective membrane serves as a third eyelid. Binocular vision Crocodile eyes have a horizontal Owls have huge, forward-facing eyes that provide a wide range of binocular vision (seeing an object with both streak of tightly packed receptors eyes at the same time). Owls see objects in three dimensions (height, width and depth). The field of view for an owl called fovea. This allows the animal is about 110 degrees, with about 70 degrees being binocular vision. By comparison, humans have a field of view to scan the shoreline without moving that covers 180 degrees, with 140 degrees being binocular. its head. Owl field of view Cross-section of an owl eye Crocodiles have excellent night vision Great horned scleral due to a reflective layer of cells called bone pecten the tapetum. owl cornea Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles optic have cone cells (color sensors) nerve specially adapted for their habitats. Lens Freshwater crocodile cones are more Right Left responsive to red light, whereas monocular monocular vision saltwater crocodile cones are more Binocular vision responsive to blue light. vision 70 degrees Retinas iris retina All animal retinas have two kinds of photo receptors—rods and cones. Rods are responsible for night vision Shrimp eyes and peripheral vision, while cones The mantis shrimp has 16 color receptors, are responsible for day vision and compared to a human’s three. This allows color processing. them to see a rainbow of colors that we The human retina contains about 120 can’t even begin to imagine. Mantis shrimp million rod cells, while owls and cats can see UV, visible and polarized light. have a lot more. This is one reason these animals can see in the dark better than people can. Relative Cat eyes Tapetum to its body Like owls and crocodiles, cats have large size, the eyes with a third eyelid called a nictitating Have you ever noticed glowing eyes tarsier has the membrane (which closes from the side). on the side of a dark road? Many largest eyes of This membrane cleans and protects the animals have a reflective layer be- any mammal. Each eye. These animals don’t need to blink to hind the retina called the tapetum eyeball is as large keep their eyes lubricated. lucidum. This eye layer sends light as the tarsier's brain. Cat retinas have a high number of rods that passes through the retina back Like owls, tarsiers and low number of cones, the opposite into the eye, increasing the light cannot rotate their of what humans have. available to the photo receptors (rods eyes but can turn and cones). The reflection of the light Cats don‘t see color the way humans do, their heads 180 cast by headlights or a flashlight on but their ability see in the dark is much degrees. If your eyes the tapetum creates the eyeshine. better. As the pupil adjusts to levels of had a similar propor- darkness, it becomes larger, SOURCES: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.; https://www. tion, they would be the allowing more light into britannica.com; https://www.worldwildlife.org; https://www.owlpages. com; https://www.rover.com;; https://www.bbc.com size of large oranges. the eye. © 2021 Triefeldt Studios, Inc. Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication LEARN ABOUT MANATEES IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF WORLD OF WONDER OUR WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION PAGE CAN BE A FUN LEARNING TOOL FOR YOUR KIDS. CHECK BACK EACH THURSDAY FOR A NEW, EXCITING TOPIC! Serving Pinal County For More Than A Century TO SUBSCRIBE: Newspapers (520) 423-8685 in Education CGVNI-NIE World Of Wonder 8-12-21 Animal Eyes DISP 8/12 (0) Zoe 6x21.5 FULL COLOR • Whole ad is art ol.