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Only asking as my headlight picks out quite a few reflective eyes on dog walks but my two dogs never seem to notice them.......if they did see them glowing they would definitely go and investigate.
Internet search with same question comes up with everything about reflective eyes except the answer to the above!
My experience is that the light tends to boucne straight back at the light source so you with the light in your eyeline will see the effect but a dog with it's eyes 3 or 4 ft below yours may see no effect (had this with my wife on walsk where one of us is holding a torch - unless we stand almost head to head the 'bright eyes' can only be seen by the one with the torch.
My 11 year old daughter is convinced dogs can see their own farts.
Why wouldn't they? But we are de facto limited in our understanding of how other animals perceive the world because we can't truly get inside their brains.
Probably down to the angle of reflection as above. Maybe also due to generally better night vision and worse colour differentiation making eyes stand out less?
Depends on whether the animals are carrying torches
Umm, I'm no biologist, but I'm pretty sure the animals eyes aren't emitting any light that can be reflected back at them from another animal. I think what you're seeing is light being reflected from the animals retina by your torch, because the animal's eyes have hugely dilated pupils in the dark.
But we are de facto limited in our understanding of how other animals perceive the world because we can’t truly get inside their brains.
I’ll ask my mate Geoff who’s a Shaman and also claims to be a shape shifter.
No definite scientific replies but I do get the light bouncing back tot he light source on my head, much higher than the dogs line of vision. Tonight's walk will be with joystick exposure held in hand, same height as dogs line of vision, I shall report back with findings.
Nobeerinthefridge, I do believe your daughters fact.
I’ll ask my mate Geoff who’s a Shaman and also claims to be a shape shifter.
I ate some number shaped spaghetti once - no matter what number they went in as they always came out as number twos.
Oh, shifter.
".....think what you’re seeing is light being reflected from the animals retina by your torch, because the animal’s eyes have hugely dilated pupils in the dark...."
Yes, but can animals with reflective eyes see this light being reflected?
Yes, but can animals with reflective eyes see this light being reflected?
Undoubtedly yes, the light reflects from behind the retina to give the photosensitive cells a second chance to absorb it, a bit like "backlight" sensors in cameras, it makes them more sensitive. So yes if they couldn't see that colour of light it wouldn't be worth reflecting.
Different animals reflect different colours and to different amounts too.
I don't think it's directional like a prismatic reflector, you don't need a head torch to observe it, a torch in your hand or light on your handlebars is going to be closer to a dogs eye level than yours anyway.
The amount of light being reflected by the animal's retina is tiny compared to what your torch is knocking out and is reflected almost straight back to the source so no, other animals won't be able to see it unless their eyes are pretty close to yours. Can humans see the light being reflected from their friends' retinas when a photographic flash causes "red eye", which is the same thing? Don't forget that the pupil, even when dilated in the dark, will limit the width of the beam being reflected faintly back.
Someone in South Africa told me that prey animals have yellow retinas whereas predators have red retinas so worry more if you see red eyes reflecting back at you during your walk in the park.
Can humans see the light being reflected from their friends’ retinas when a photographic flash causes “red eye”, which is the same thing?
No, it's not the same thing.
Redeye is just an image of your retina (which like most things in your body is red because it has ablod supply, so you can only see it with a really bright light. The cats eye effect is due to a component in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum which is a seperate reflective layer.
Someone in South Africa told me that prey animals have yellow retinas whereas predators have red retinas so worry more if you see red eyes reflecting back at you during your walk in the park.
Nope, most animals are yellow to green, some are blue
so worry more if you see red eyes reflecting back at you during your walk in the park.
We'll duh! Scooby Doo taught us that years ago.
Only in the dark with the light behind them.
I’ll ask my mate Geoff who’s a Shaman and also claims to be a shape shifter.
He's pulling your leg. Theres isn't anyone called Geoff in either of those bands