How do different animals see?

Follow me class. We’re here in the park to learn how animals see. If animals have eyes to let light in, that means they have some form of vision, but that doesn’t mean all animals’ eyes are alike. Take this dragonfly, for example.

Its eyes are actually made up of thousands of tiny different lenses. We call this kind of eye a compound eye, and because all the little lenses point in different directions, animals that have them are very good at detecting movement – especially of big things like predators who might be trying to eat them.

In fact, it’s almost impossible to sneak up on a dragonfly without it seeing you. Told you!

Bees also have compound eyes. Now, bees are very good at seeing colours and, just like the dragonfly, can also see ultraviolet.

Ultraviolet is a kind of light that’s all around us, but which only some animals can see.

When a bee looks at a flower, its ultraviolet vision lets it see patterns on the petals. It’s kind of like there are arrows pointing to where the food is. Very helpful if you’re a hungry bee!

Dogs’ eyes aren’t great at seeing colours, but they are good at seeing some ultraviolet.

This means they can see better in the dark – very useful for hunting, and they can also see the traces of other dogs’ wee.

Well, you know what dogs are like… Disgusting animals.

DOG BARKING

Nice doggy! Nice animal!