Here's looking at ya!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
September 27, 2017 7:38pm CST
Did you know that the pupils in the eyes of some animals are round while those of others are rectangular? I first found out that goats have these horizontal pupils but on researching it more I found out that other species do too.
It seems that most predators have round pupils whereas those preyed upon have rectangular ones. Round pupils allow prey animals to judge distance better.
Rectangular ones allow a much wider field of vision. It also lets the eyes take in more light. This extended peripheral vision gives them a panoramic view of the world around them and makes it harder for predators to creep up. Also, objects directly in front of them are seen more clearly enabling safer progress over potentially rough ground.
Another interesting factor is that the eyes of grazing animals rotate their eyes when they put their heads down to graze. The pupils of the eye remain almost parallel to the ground at all times. The rotation can be over 50 degrees per eye which is ten times more than the human eye. Who’d a thought it?
19 people like this
18 responses
@crossbones27 (52907)
• Mojave, California
28 Sep 17
I did not know that, very interesting. I never met a goat, but now I will know if I ever see one in person. Thanks
4 people like this
@crossbones27 (52907)
• Mojave, California
28 Sep 17
@JudyEv Yeah, I met a donkey, he did not have square eyes, but was crossed eyed. 
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Sep 17
@crossbones27 He must have looked funny.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Sep 17
Good grief, I need to get me some rectangular pupils! Mine aren't working quite that well:)
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Sep 17
@JudyEv Oh no! I was hoping for something a whole lot better:(
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
29 Sep 17
Well, I am gonna put this little factoid in the file of you learn something new every day!
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
1 Oct 17
@JudyEv oh yes I am a veritable filing cabinet of useless facts. Just don't,t ask me where my keys are!
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
28 Sep 17
I used to have goats and I liked their eyes. But they did stink.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Sep 17
@Marty1 Billies are the male goats, Kids are the babies.
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Sep 17
@Marty1 I'm not sure, but Billy is a male's name. The Nanny goat, is the female, Nan is a female's name.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 17
@kobesbuddy Sheep and goats make great pets usually. 
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
1 Oct 17
@JudyEv My grandma had three sheep on her farm, they were so sweet and loving animals.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
28 Sep 17
Some interesting facts here. Thanks for sharing
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Sep 17
There is so much interesting stuff out there isn't there?
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
28 Sep 17
Interesting! Here's looking at you back! So the eyes have it! 
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
28 Sep 17
I never realized that. Are you back in Australia? You seemed to have had a fabulous holiday.
2 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
28 Sep 17
Those goats are really cute, just don't piss them off specially when they are grown up.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Sep 17
I hope you won't think I'm rude but I find it hard to make eye contact with people whose eyes go different ways, even if only by a little bit. I keep trying to move to get in their line of vision but it's a different place for each eye.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
30 Sep 17
I didn't know that, thought they were all round, then again I have never gazed into the eyes of an animal other than my pet.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Sep 17
I had no idea. But now I can clearly see the difference in pupils. Interesting.
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11325)
• Australia
3 Oct 17
that reminds me of my husband's right eye pupil which is twice the size bigger than the left one.. Our doctor and even the eye specialist that he referred us to are amazed by how big his right eye pupil is.. I joked that maybe he was an owl in his previous life ..lol..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11325)
• Australia
5 Oct 17
@JudyEv Yes, his vision is normal for a 70 years old .. though he needs to wear glasses for reading ..
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Oct 17
I had no idea about the difference in pupils. Odd difference between predators and prey.
