Why do animal eyes have pupils of different shapes?
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Banks MS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4643806 | biostudies-other | 2015 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Publications
Why do animal eyes have pupils of different shapes?
Banks Martin S MS Sprague William W WW Schmoll Jürgen J Parnell Jared A Q JA Love Gordon D GD
Science advances 20150807 7
There is a striking correlation between terrestrial species' pupil shape and ecological niche (that is, foraging mode and time of day they are active). Species with vertically elongated pupils are very likely to be ambush predators and active day and night. Species with horizontally elongated pupils are very likely to be prey and to have laterally placed eyes. Vertically elongated pupils create astigmatic depth of field such that images of vertical contours nearer or farther than the distance to ...[more]
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