Why Do Some Animals' Eyes Glow in the Dark? The Science of Eyeshine

submitted by solo to biodiversity 16 points | 2 comments https://blog.nature.org/2026/04/14/why-do-some-animals-eyes-glow-in-the-dark-the-science-of-eyeshine/ > In nocturnal animals, the tapetum lucidum acts like a mirror, reflecting light back through the retina and stimulating photoreceptors a second time, a process that basically doubles visual sensitivity. This heightened ability to see in the dark is useful for hunting—or to avoid being hunted. > “We know basically nothing about the evolution, genetics, and developmental biology of the tapetum,” > “The tapetum has appeared and disappeared countless times throughout the evolution and diversification of animals,”