Eye shapes of animals can tell us about their lifestyles by Meredith Jacques
Scientists have recently discovered that the shape of an animals' pupil is very closely related to their behaviors and niche in the world. Predators tend to have pupils that are vertical slits (like your pet cat). But, this only applies if they are short, and therefore their eyes are closer to the ground. For taller animals that hunt for food, pupils tend to be more round. For animals that are usually prey, horizontal pupils tend to be more common. But, it turns out this is only useful when an animal's pupils are parallel to the ground. The scientists were curious what happens when an animal moves it head down to eat (like a deer eating grass). They decided to look at animal's eyes while they were moving their head. They discovered that their eyes actually rotate in their heads! The eyes rotate to keep the pupil parallel to the ground.
Why might this be useful information to know?
What does this tell us about human beings?
Who might be interested in this information other than scientists?
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/07/430149677/eye-shapes-of-the-animal-world-hint-at-differences-in-our-lifestyles
Scientists have recently discovered that the shape of an animals' pupil is very closely related to their behaviors and niche in the world. Predators tend to have pupils that are vertical slits (like your pet cat). But, this only applies if they are short, and therefore their eyes are closer to the ground. For taller animals that hunt for food, pupils tend to be more round. For animals that are usually prey, horizontal pupils tend to be more common. But, it turns out this is only useful when an animal's pupils are parallel to the ground. The scientists were curious what happens when an animal moves it head down to eat (like a deer eating grass). They decided to look at animal's eyes while they were moving their head. They discovered that their eyes actually rotate in their heads! The eyes rotate to keep the pupil parallel to the ground.
Why might this be useful information to know?
What does this tell us about human beings?
Who might be interested in this information other than scientists?
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/07/430149677/eye-shapes-of-the-animal-world-hint-at-differences-in-our-lifestyles
I think it's interesting that the closer the prey is to the ground, the more horizontal it is while the taller the prey is the rounder the pupil is.
ReplyDelete-Jessica DeMoor
This information gives us some insight into the development of human beings. Predators that are taller have been found to have rounder pupils, which is exactly the way a human's pupils are. This means that, although we're omnivores, we may have evolved primarily as predators.
ReplyDeleteDorian K.
That's especially interesting given that some primates, like chimps, are predatory, but other primates, like gorillas, are not. I would guess it has something to do with how combative a species is and how much they have to worry about predators.
DeleteWesley H.
I think it's interesting that the closer the prey is to the ground, the more horizontal it is while the taller the prey is the rounder the pupil is. I found that very interesting because us humans have round pupils but we arent exactly prey.
ReplyDelete-Jessica DeMoor
David C
ReplyDeleteI think this information would be useful to know because this can be used for camera lenses, and understanding new species. All in all, this can help advance our technology.
I wonder why the horizontal eye slit only provides an advantage when horizontal to the ground? Though the animals can compensate for it, it seems like that would be a big disadvantage at times.
ReplyDeleteI think that how the prey's eyes rotate to be parallel to the ground is very interesting. I believe this is so they can keep watch for predators while they are vulnerable while eating.
ReplyDelete-Maddie Hoffmeyer
This information might be interesting to know because if we discover an unknown animal we would, with some degree of accuracy determine whether or not it is a predator. I also found it interesting that animals such as snakes thin vertical pupils, i'm guessing this is so they can see more above them.
ReplyDelete-Spencer Hyatt
I find it cool that animals had different eye shapes that fit their lifestyles. I also wonder if any animal has possibly changed the shape of their eyes through generations due to adapting to maybe a new environment
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting how animals pupils differ from predator and prey. It makes me curious about the advantages and disadvantages of having vertical or horizontal pupils. I wonder what is the difference between the way each views things.
ReplyDeleteSally H.
I wonder if variations in pupil shape beyond vertical, horizontal, or round have any significance. The top left animal has more of a curved pupil which may or may not help it based on it's lifestyle.
ReplyDelete-Alyssa C
I find it very interesting how animals and humans have different pupils and how they use them to their advantage. I am wondering if monkeys and animals in the monkey family have similar pupils to humans because of how we "mutated" from apes long ago.
ReplyDelete-Trevor G.
Observation: Omnivores big and small have round eyes, i believe it's because they share the same diet as humans do.
ReplyDeleteThis is useful information because other then the animals in gives us information about mammals in general. This report is telling me that humans are apart of the taller predators and our eyes are actually similar to animals who are tall predators , the pupils shape will match those animals. -Nyah E
ReplyDeleteI find it very cool that taller predators have more rounder eye slit because never thought of this and it would be very interesting to see how shorter predators' view point would be like.
ReplyDelete-Gyeom K.
This is a fact that shows the evolution of animals depending where they live, what they eat... Eyes is only a part of it and is already very interesting!
ReplyDeleteJulien
I think this topic is cool because the data is showing that animals are evolving to adapt to how predators hunt the prey to avoid getting killed.
ReplyDelete-Matt Alley
I find it interesting that species and animals are able to evolve to make it easier for them to thrive like how certain species have eyes on the side of their head so they can see all around them.- aubrey k
ReplyDeleteThat's really awesome but I wonder how accurate it is. It's kind of crazy that we can know so much just by looking at eyes!! What type of eyes do we have then? Supreme predator? Lol
ReplyDeletejahanvi
ReplyDeleteI think that this information about the pupil Is also useful for the wildlife people or the zoologists. and this is really one of the interesting fact I have learned.