Predator animals have vertical pupil shapes where prey like goats have horizontal shaped pupils. (Photo : Wikipedia)
A new study reveals how the shape of eyes of animals can distinguish them from being a predator or a prey in the wild. These new findings can determine whether the animal could be the hunter or the hunted, depending if they have vertical or horizontal pupils, scientists conclude.
When it comes to predators such as cats, they possess vertical pupils that result in out of focus areas on their line of sight. This means that potential targets for prey transform out of focus depending on their distance. Predators then utilize this effect as a tool to measure the distance from their prey.
The vertical shape of pupils can transform the amount of light that will enter their aperture more than round pupils that humans posses. Humans have round shaped pupils that have the ability to alter its size 15 times better from conditions ranging from brightest to darkest. However, cats have this ability that is 135 times more effective where as geckos, 300 times better.
On the other hand, researchers also believe that horizontal pupils of animals considered as prey can provide a more panoramic view of their surroundings to scan a better range of territory to escape from predators. This horizontal rectangular shape of the pupils allows these creatures to see out of the corner of their eyes using their peripheral vision.
This can be an advantage to veer away from obstacles like rocks when they sprint away from predators that usually pounce from behind. This can also provide a "shade" to prevent them from seeing the glare of sunlight during their escape.
During the study, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley conducted computer simulations with different eye models to provide them with more accuracy in measuring how different animals see the world around them.
Prior to this study, biologists also note that most predators have eyes in front of their faces where as prey normally have eyes located at the sides of their heads. This works together in relation to pupil shapes to estimate distances for predators and a wider field range for escape for target prey.
This study is published in the journal, Science Advances.
