10 Nocturnal Animals with Extraordinary Night Vision
To really appreciate how nocturnal animals see in the dark, it helps to understand the science behind it. Their night vision comes down to a mix of anatomical and physiological tweaks that make low-light vision possible. One key feature is a special reflective layer in their eyes that bounces light back to their photoreceptors, giving them a second chance to absorb it. They also have a higher concentration of rod cells, which are much better at detecting dim light than the cone cells that handle color vision. All of these adaptations work together to make the most of whatever light is available, giving these animals an incredibly sharp view of their surroundings. Learning about these mechanisms not only highlights the impressive ways nature has evolved but also inspires human innovations—like night-vision technology.
