Though we might like to think that animals see the world with the same vivid colors and definition as human beings, perhaps just from different angles and perspectives, the truth is that vision differs greatly among animal species.
Animals process visual information in distinct ways, largely a direct result of the specifics of their visual equipment. An animal's eyel and the arrangement of its various structures determine the basis of its visual world. Although all vertebrates utilize an eye that takes in images by focusing on an object in a camera-like manner, many have different eye shapes, and some do not possess all of the same structures (such as cones, which distinguish colors). Of course, some animals have receptors that pick up visual stimuli that humans cannot perceive; birds, for example, can see ultraviolet light, and as a result observe a variety of visual patterns which humans can only view through the use of additional external filters.
Basic visual capabilities are not all that matter when considering animal vision. Though the raw information is important in that it provides a basis for any further brain processing, once a picture is formed it moves on to the rest of the brain and is compiled with all the other sensory information that an animal has taken in. The end product is a perceived view of the surrounding world, otherwise known as an ümvelt.
Though humans can see the entire visible light spectrum and would be able to appreciate the rich greens of the grass in the meadow on the left, prairie dogs and squirrels are red/green color blind, and only perceive the blues, yellows, and greys of the landscape.
From this Website: http://www.pigeon.psy.tufts.edu/psych26/umvelt.htm
I think what is really interesting about the differences between the vision of humans and the vision of animals is the quality of "vision." Although humans can see the entirety of the viable light spectrum, we do not necessarily "see" better than all animals/insects. As I wrote in one of my reflection pieces, I believe "seeing" is a culmination of all our available senses. The example of the bat highlights this stance -"Blind as a bat" in regards to "sight" but in reality their sense of echolocation allows them to pin-point their prey in total darkness without being able to "see." Thus, it poses the question: How important is sight through the eyes? Perhaps "seeing" is better suited to our other senses
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Elkin's segment, I went online and typed in Google how all kinds of animals see. How does a bee see, how does a dog see, I also often wondered how do they know that? But after some research and looking around I found out how. I shared these images with my kids, they found it facinating. I think it is helpful to see how animals see to understand what we might be missing in our sight.
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