![]() These larger predators included tigers, lions, wolves and cheetahs.Īdditional scientific modeling has found that the vertical pupil slits are more important in determining distances when an animal is close to the ground, but those vertical slits are not as important when the eyes are further off the ground. While predators such as alligators, snakes and domestic cats have vertical pupil slits, larger predators have circular pupils like humans and dogs. The predators that live a little higher off the ground usually have circular pupils, the last category of pupil type. Upon further study, the scientists found that only predators that live closest to the ground have vertical slit pupils. Not all predators have vertical slit eyes. Something didn’t work out quite right when it came to predators, however. Vertical slits also helped predators find their prey in light and dark conditions. Focus and depth perception are important for an animal to decide when to pounce on its prey. It turns out that vertical slits help a predator with focus and depth perception - or the distance between objects. Next, the scientists used models to determine the benefits of vertical slits. The animals can do this because their eyes can rotate as much as 50 degrees in their socket compared to humans, which can only rotate 9 degrees. The scientists found that most animals with horizontal slits can rotate their eyes when they go down to eat so that the horizontal slits are always parallel to the ground, watching for predators. But what happens when the animal’s head goes down to graze on the plants? Wouldn’t the horizontal slits only allow the animal to see the ground right in front of it? Not to worry. The horizontal slits are parallel to the ground to maximize predator detection. Horizontal slits also shield eyes from some of the harsh light coming from the sun. This allows herbivores to scan for predators coming from different directions. The scientists studied 214 species, finding that pupil shape gives animals a competitive edge when it comes to predator and prey survival.Ī computer model simulation has shown that a horizontal pupil slit allows in more light from the left and right and less from above and below. What do the different shapes mean? A recent study out of the University of California–Berkeley and Durham University in Britain found that the shape of the pupil does matter. Finally, some animals, such as snakes and cats, have vertical slits for their pupils. Some animals, including goats, have horizontal slits for their pupils. Have you ever noticed the different shape of the pupil in the eyes of different animals? Some animals, such as the dog, have circular pupils similar to the human eye.
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