🦉 How do animals see in the dark?

Some animals, like cats 🐱 and owls 🦉, can see in the dark much better than humans! They have special eyes that help them see when it's very dark outside.

Their eyes have a part called the tapetum lucidum (it's like a tiny mirror inside their eyes!) that reflects light and makes things brighter. That's why their eyes sometimes glow in the dark! 🌟

Animals like cats, owls, and foxes 🦊 have amazing night vision because their eyes are built differently from ours!

How it works:

• They have more rod cells in their eyes (these help detect light).
• Their pupils get very big to let in more light (like opening a camera lens wide!).
• They have a tapetum lucidum—a shiny layer that bounces light back through their eyes (like a mirror!).

This is why their eyes glow when light shines on them at night! ✨

Nocturnal animals (active at night) have evolved incredible adaptations to see in low light. Here’s how:

1. Eye Structure

Their eyes contain more rod cells (light-sensitive cells) than humans. Rods detect dim light but don’t see color well—that’s why many night animals see in shades of gray!

2. Pupil Shape

Some, like cats 🐱, have vertical pupils that expand wider than human pupils to gather more light.

3. Tapetum Lucidum

This reflective layer behind the retina acts like a mirror, giving light a second chance to hit the rods. It’s why their eyes glow in photos!

4. Other Tricks

Some animals (like bats 🦇) use echolocation instead of sight, while others (like snakes 🐍) detect infrared heat!