Many zoologists believe that snakes can only perceive prey animals that are moving. In this respect, the proverbial mouse, which freezes in front of the snake, tricks the reptile and can thus, possibly, get away with life …
Why are we telling this?
Well, this is the first indication that reptiles, and especially snakes, see differently than we do humans.
For example, shortly after the moult, next to nothing, the skin over the eyes is also replaced.
A time when many snakes feel particularly vulnerable and can, therefore, be very snappy and aggressive.
For this, bacteria and parasites are also repelled, and any healing process accelerated, almost in one wash with the moult and the old scales.
Just one of the reasons why injured snakes shed their skin particularly hard.
The right eyes for every living space
Digging species, such as the blind snakes, can anyway (the name suggests it) only see little with their receded eyes.
Here, virtual perception is probably limited to light and dark, while venomous snakes, especially when hunting, rely heavily on their eyesight and are particularly “subscribed” to the movement.
Speaking of poison: Desert scorpions and desert snakes, in particular, are often particularly poisonous.
Given the few prey animals that occur here, no raid must go wrong, and no poisoned victim can hide anymore!
The hunter herself also likes to keep an eye on her surroundings.
Cobras do not tend to straighten the upper body just in their typical threatening position and shortly before the bite.
In general, straightening the front body can also be used for hunting and a better overview.
The alignment of the eyes on the head (as in the case of fish) can also vary:
Typically, the eyes are arranged more to the side (which leads to a large field of vision) but can also be shifted further upwards in more aquatic snake species.
A great facility of nature, which the snake might envy some combat swimmers.
This way, the animal can still blink underwater and, invisible and submerged, check the airspace.
However, snake eyes are probably only able to see the colour to a limited extent.
Focusing is then done by moving the lens through muscles in the snake’s eye, thereby lengthening or shortening the retina’s distance.
By the way, some species have a light-reflecting layer behind the retina, which is equivalent to a residual light intensifier for crepuscular and nocturnal snakes when orienting themselves.
The snipers among the reptiles
“You have unusual eyes. While one eye is looking ahead, the other can look back,” explain the keepers at my local reptile zoo to the chameleons.
Of course, this helps keep an eye out for prey and still not be surprised by enemies yourself.
But once a worthwhile chunk of food, such as a fat cricket, is identified, it is focused with both eyes.
Although vertebrates’ eyes are identical in their basic construction plan, chameleon eyes are considered far more efficient than a human eye.
Many believe that the animals can see clearly up to a kilometre away.
The focus is brought about by the curvature of the cornea and/or lens, with the animals not only seeing very well and clearly at a distance but also close up.
Fast animals, good eyes
It is logical, however, that animals that climb trees and thus want to go high can recognize their surroundings well and have to estimate distances:
“All agamas can see extremely well,” confirms the Reptile zookeeper.
In agamas, the eye, like the kite that sails from tree to tree in its Southeast Asian homeland, is, in fact, the most important and best-developed sense organ.
Interestingly, many reptiles, insects, fish, and birds can recognize ultraviolet light, also called UV radiation or ultraviolet radiation, which is no longer visible to us humans.
In fact, it can be found in the retina ( retina ) of reptiles, different photoreceptors, including so-called cones, which are sensitive to the colours of UV-A, blue, green and red. Unlike us humans, where only three types of cones, namely the S-type (blue receptor), the M-type (green receptor) and the L-type (red receptor), are known.
So it’s no wonder that lighting also influences the well-being and behaviour of our pets:
Many experts assume that the so-called long-wave ultraviolet (UV-A) increases the well-being of the animals. Because its presence in the terrarium causes a completely different view of the world in reptiles, literally allowing conspecifics (keyword: reproduction) and furnishings and feed animals (the solution for uncomfortable eaters?) to appear in a completely different light.
… in this respect, the new Exo Terra Reptile Vision, an ingenious compact terrarium lamp that comes up with a light spectrum suitable for reptiles, should do our pets really well.
Because it dramatically improves the animals’ colour and light perception and is also extremely energy-saving and long-lasting, easy on the wallet.
In general, animals that were allowed to live in such a tank showed increased activity.
Because the terrarium inhabitants now perceive their surroundings completely, many experts see the optimum of species-appropriate housing conditions.
Also, the reproductive instinct is stimulated, by the way.
However, each offspring ensures that no further animals are taken from the wild so that one can certainly speak of a real innovation with this lamp.
The Exo Terra Reptile Vision compact lamp is particularly suitable for diurnal reptiles such as bearded dragons, day geckos, monitor lizards or chameleons. It can also be an ideal complement to the UV compact lamps, as it corrects their unnatural spectrum and ideal, almost natural lighting conditions in the terrarium can be achieved.
The best: The Exo Terra Reptile Vision can be screwed into any conventional E27 socket and thus easily installed and operated in the pool.
It is currently available in two strengths: the Exo Terra Reptile Vision compact lamp with 13 watts and 26 watts.
Both options can be purchased on Amazon.
