The Animal World | Why Do Cats' Eyes Shine In The Dark?
Why do cats' eyes shine in the dark?
Cats' eyes shine in the dark due to the presence of a light-reflecting surface called the tapetum lucidum. The tapetum lucidum, located behind the retina, is composed of fifteen layers of special glittering cells of the substance guanine.
The tapetum lucidum reflects any light that is not absorbed as light passes through the retina of the eye. The reflection by the tapetum lucidum allows the retina to absorb extra light, which aids the cat's night vision. Another consequence of the tapetum lucidum is that it causes the cat's eyes to shine in dim light, when the light hits the eyes at certain angles.
A cat's shining eyes usually appear greenish or golden. The eyes of the Siamese cat reflect a luminous ruby red.
Sources: "Biological Coloration: Visual Functions." Encyclopaedia Britannica CD 97; McNulty, Faith. Wholly Cats, p. 17; Schneck, Marcus, and Jill...
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