In the cat family, lions often become the focus of attention because of their impressive size and strength. However, there is one part of their body that sets them apart from other small cats, and that is their eyes. Although they still have a similar shape to domestic cats, lion's eyes have some differences. One noticeable difference is the relatively larger size of lion's eyes compared to other small cats. So, why do lion's eyes have different characteristics from other cats? To find out the answer, read the following article!

The main reason why lion eyes do not look like small cat eyes is because of their place in the ecosystem. Researchers have found that tall-bodied animals that chase prey, such as lions, tigers, and wolves, tend to have round pupils. In contrast, small cats have vertical slit pupils because they are more likely to be ambush predators. Their small size prevents them from actively chasing prey like large cats. Instead, they hunt stealthily.

Shorter predators like cats and crocodiles certainly need more focused eyes because they have to be closer to their prey in order to catch them. Slit eyes allow ambush predators to accurately assess distance through two optical processes called stereopsis (or depth perception) and blurring. On the other hand, large cats do not require this adaptation. They simply try to hunt by chasing their prey from a distance and leaping towards it.

Pupil is circular like a lion, having circular muscles to control how well they open and close, while vertical slit pupils like cats have muscles on the sides. As a result, cat pupils open and close stronger, allowing for larger size changes at night to let in more light. Because lions can hunt during the day, they do not need special eye structures to let in more light. Even without slit pupils, lions can still see clearly at night.