Why animals can see in the dark?

Question

When it's dark human being unable to see in the dark without a light but why animals can see in the dark?

Answer 1

It has to do with the set up of the rods and cones in their eyes - they have different displacements through years of natural selection ( or as I believe) alien induction -
But never the less - their eyes have different properties depending on their species and its niche in the ecosystem

Answer 2

Most animals cannot see in complete darkness..most can see a lot better in the dark than humans, but there usually has to be some light for an animal to see. Animals have a membrane in the eye called a tapetum lucidum that helps absorb and reflect light. Owls eyes are particularly good at this. Owls actually rely more on hearing to catch prey in darkness than on their sight. Bats also are thought to be able to see in the dark..they can see somewhat, but they too depend on hearing (echolocation) to catch prey in total darkness.

Answer 3

There's many different adaptions, cats and the like have a higly reflective layer behind the retina which allows the light to pass through it twice (once coming in, once coming 'out').

There's also a lot of other ways they can see better, although this is speculation on my part:

the pigmentation (molecules that 'detect' light) can be modified for the wavelengths of light at night, you can have more photoreceptors, more pigment, more sensitive photoreptors, more sensitive photopigments, thicker retina, more densely packed photoreceptors in the retina... the list of possible and hard to test for modifications is endless. I'm sure some of these have been shown in some animals, it just takes a lot of time and money to do so. I can't cite anything of the top of my head unfortanately.

Answer 4

Dark? Seldom is it truly dark, the absence of all light. In order for animals to see there has to be some light. The proper way to think of it is seeing in low light conditions. Most animals will not move when it is totally dark. Those animals that have evolved to live in total darknes are usually blind, like cave fish.

Some animals have evolved to move and or hunt in low light conditions. Changes in the eyes, ears and nose allow some animals to be better adapted to night time life. But remember, there are no absolutes in Nature. While some owls hunt primarily at night, there are times when they have to hunt during daylight, like when rearing young.


The Nocturnal Eye
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kalahari/nocturnaleye.html

Answer 5

Nocturnal animals have far greater number of rods in the retina. These are concerned with the intensity of light.

Answer 6

Animals that can see in the dark have a membrane in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum that makes it possible.

Answer 7

animals can see in the dark since they are colour blinded.

Answer 8

animals do not see in colour. that's one of the advantages of seeing things in black and white. not to mention with heighten sense of smell and hearing, animals can move around with ease. and the whiskers on their faces or not their for show. they at as feelers, much the same way you stick your hands out in the dark.

Answer 9

Because animals don't have flashlights and can't make light!! they have to see somehow

They aren't all lucky enough to have glowing noses.....

Answer 10

Evolution and survival!