Some animals can "see" in the infrared. For example, snakes in the pit viper family (e.g. rattlesnakes) have sensory "pits," which are used to detect infrared light. This allows the snake to find warm-blooded animals (even in dark burrows), by detecting the infrared heat that they radiate. Snakes with 2 sensory pits are thought to have some depth perception in the infrared.
2007-01-01 11:22:24
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answer #1
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answered by jamaica 5
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Infrared radiation is mostly perceived as "heat", and thus it is detected by thermal receptors.
However, according to article (1) (see the Source box), some freshwater fish can see into the near infrared ("see" as in "using their eyes"). This is because their eyes have porphyropsins as receptor pigments that can sense radiations with about 630 nm (nanometers) wavelength; in contrast, our pigments are rhodopsins, sensing at shorter wavelengths (approx. 565 nm).
However, the "real" infrared is at approx. 700 nm wavelength, so they're not really seeing in "true" infrared. Check this illustration of the electromagnetic spectrum:
http://www.burrowsconsultancy.com/electromagnetic-spectrum.gif
With respect to some snakes and insects, they have special infrared sense organs. According to the second referenced article (2), the infrared organs of beetles and snakes have different types of receptors, basically thermoreceptors in snakes and mechanoreceptors in beetles (at least in the species studied).
Among snakes, pit vipers and boas use their IR-sense organs to find their warm-blooded prey; likewise, some beetles seem to rely on IR detectors to avoid fires, and there are blood-sucking bugs that might use them to detect victims.
2007-01-04 08:28:27
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answer #2
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answered by Calimecita 7
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All of the "pit vipers" and many of the boiid snakes can
Many insects are also able to see quite well in this spectrum
2007-01-01 22:22:39
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Snakes can. Very important when they are looking for food.
2007-01-02 11:10:33
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answer #4
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answered by spyhopper 3
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I see all, even in infra red.
I'm watching you right now
2007-01-01 20:25:17
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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snakes
2007-01-01 23:59:24
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answer #6
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answered by Jane M 3
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