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Interesting Facts About Animal Eyes
Dr. Edwin M. Schottenstein is proud to be your choice when you are looking for an eye doctor and high-quality eye care specialist in the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Chelsea, and greater Manhattan areas. Although the eye care we perform is obviously done on humans, that still does not stop us from being fascinated with the eyes of many animals. Here are a few fun facts about eyes for some members of the animal kingdom.
Cats ‘Kiss’ With Their Eyes
Unlike humans, cats actually have a different method of showing their affection for others. If your cat stares at you for a prolonged period of time and then slowly blinks his eyes, he or she is actually giving you what is called a ‘kitty kiss.’ This is showing you that he or she loves you and feels comfortable with you. Cats actually do a lot of their communicating with their eyes, which also comes in helpful in the wild. They can use their blinking to tell other cats that they are friendly and not looking for trouble.
The Largest Eyes Belong To The Colossal Squid
The biggest eyes in the animal kingdom belong to the colossal squid. Their eyes can measure to over 11 inches long across, which is bigger than a dinner plate! The colossal squid’s massive eyes allow it to see in dimly lit conditions, which is perfect since it spends much of its time 2,000 meters below the sea’s surface. It is believed that their eyes are hugely beneficial in avoiding their natural enemy, the sperm whale.
Birds Of Prey Have The Sharpest Eyesight Amongst Animals
The sharpest eyesight in the animal kingdom belongs to birds of prey, which include falcons, eagles, and hawks. They can see up to eight times more clearly than the human eye. A bird of prey is even capable of spotting a hare from over a mile away!
The Tridacna Gigas Has Thousands Of Eyes
The Tridacna gigas is a giant clam that is the largest living bivalve mollusk. What really makes the Tridacna gigas unique though is that it has hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of eyes along the edges of its mantle. These eyes are used to both detect harmful ultraviolet rays and detect shadows, which may represent potential predators.
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If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with us, we encourage you to fill out our online appointment request form. Alternatively, you can give us a call at (212) 874-2300. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions for us. We look forward to hearing from you!