There is still a Family Relationship, Why are Lion Eyes Different from Cat's?

Masih Ada Hubungan Keluarga, Mengapa Mata Singa Beda dengan Kucing?

There is still a Family Connection, Why are Lion's Eyes Different from Cats?

The following is the translation of the 'Bahasa' text to 'English' while preserving any html tags: The cat family (Family Felidae) is a large and diverse family. It includes large cats such as lions and tigers, medium-sized cats like lynxes and caracals, and small cats like domesticated house cats. Despite the size differences, large cats like lions are similar to domestic cats in many ways.

"Small Differences Between the Two"

Both of them have mustaches, are carnivorous, and can be very territorial. They also share identical body morphology. But no matter how close they are, there are still clear differences between them. One subtle difference is that lion's eyes don't look like cat's eyes.

There is still a Family Relationship, Why are Lion Eyes Different from Cat's?

Lions usually have round-shaped pupils, while domestic cats have narrow vertical pupils resembling a dagger.

The translated text with preserved HTML tags: "The tamed cat's eyes seem to become a standard for small cats, while larger cats like lions and tigers tend to have round-shaped pupils."

Although there are these differences, there are still some similarities between the eyes of both types of cats. First, both have better vision than humans, and their eyes also reflect light at night, producing a spooky gleam. Offspring of both species are born blind. Considering all these similarities, why do lion and cat eyes have different shapes? Continue reading to find out the answer.

Why Lion's Eyes Differ from Cat's Eyes

Different from cats which have vertical pupils, lions have round-shaped pupils. Basically, lion eyes do not look like cat eyes because they are bigger. They hunt their prey in a different way and are more active during the day than at night.

Martin Banks, an optometry professor at UC Berkeley, conducted research on this subject. The study, conducted in collaboration with Durham University in England and published in the journal Science Advances, presents a hypothesis that links eye shape to the ecological niche occupied by an animal. In this study, Banks and his colleagues analyzed 214 land animals. Scientists correlated the eye shape of these animals (round, horizontal, and vertical) with their feeding habits and the time of day when they are most active.

"The Main Reason"

Based on this research, the main reason why lion's eyes are different from small cat's eyes is their position in the ecosystem. Researchers found that animals that are taller and chase prey, such as lions, tigers, and wolves, tend to have round-shaped pupils.

"Differences in Hunting Prey"

On the contrary, small kittens have vertical pupils because they are more inclined to be ambush predators. Their small size means they cannot actively chase prey like larger cats. Instead, they hunt in a more stealthy manner.

Size, Silent Hunting, and Eye Shape

Scientists have discovered that eyes with wing-shaped pupils adapt to make this possible. Eyes with wing-shaped pupils allow ambushing predators to accurately measure distance through 2 optical processes called stereopsis (or depth perception) and blur.

Stereopsis is an adaptation that allows the brain to capture information from each eye with slightly different angles. At the same time, blur refers to the difference in object sharpness at different distances from the eyes. Both of these phenomena make it easier for small cats to accurately estimate the distance between them and their prey.

The translation of the given text from Bahasa to English while preserving any HTML tags is: "Lions do not need this adaptation."

They only chase prey from a distance and leap towards them. Out of the 65 ambushing predators included in Banks' study, 44 have vertical pupils, and 36 of them are less than 16.5 inches tall at the shoulder.

However, there is an exception to this rule. Not all short predators have vertical pupils. An example is the Pallas cat. This wild cat species is peculiar in the sense that it has round eyes despite having the same size as a regular house cat. The reason for this is still a mystery, and no one has been able to provide a conclusive explanation. However, because small cats with round eyes are outliers, the hypothesis linking wing-shaped eyes with small size appears valid.

"Lions are more active during the day"

Another hypothesis is that lions have round eyes because they are usually more active during the day compared to cats. The pupil of the eye functions like a camera aperture. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye by enlarging (opening) or reducing (closing) it.

Pupil-shaped round like those of a lion have ring-shaped muscles to control how well they open and close, while wing-shaped pupils like those of a cat have muscles on the sides. As a result, cat pupils open and close more strongly, allowing for larger size changes at night to let in more light. Researchers believe that this ability helps cats see better in dim light.

Because lions can hunt during the day, they actually do not need special eye structures to let in more light.

Although without wing-shaped pupils, lions can still see clearly at night thanks to other adaptations, such as a reflective layer of cells behind their retina known as the tapetum lucidum. This acts like a mirror and helps the animal see better in darkness.

Pernikahan Beda Agama

Love Story Full of Plot Twists, Being Deceived for a Year by a Guy Claiming to be Muslim but Turns Out to be Non-Muslim: Often Fasts on Mondays and Thursdays

According to Caca, her boyfriend has been good and has not exhibited any strange behavior throughout their one-year relationship.