Do you know that some animals have bad eyesight? In fact, their poor vision is what helps them survive in the wild. Without their poor eyesight, they would not be able to evade predators or find food.
Let’s take a look at 10 animals with bad eyesight and see how they manage to get by!
15 Animals With Bad Eyesight
1. Rhinoceroses
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) has found that rhinoceros have poor eyesight because their eyes are positioned very close together.
This means they have difficulty seeing objects clearly, especially those that are farther away. These large animals are known for their horned head and long tails. Some people believe that their horns are for fighting.
Scientists found that rhinos’ eyes are on opposite sides of the skull and their eyeballs are only separated by a thin membrane.
The membrane cannot provide nutrients or oxygen to the eye, which will make the eyes become blind. This was found by scientists and published in the journal Scientific Reports.
2. Bats
Bats are another animal that has poor eyesight. Bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark. They emit high-pitched sounds and listen to the echo to determine where they are and what is around them.
This is how they are able to avoid obstacles and find their prey. If you have ever seen a bat up close, you will notice that their eyes are very small.
This is because they don’t need to see clearly to get around. All they need is to be able to sense where they are and what is around them.
Scientists believe that bats’ eyesight is so poor because they evolved in dark caves. There was no need for them to have good vision when they were living in complete darkness.
Now that they are out in the open, their eyesight has not improved much because they still rely on echolocation to get around.
3. Bulls
Bulls have poor eyesight for the same reason that rhinos do – their eyes are positioned very close together. This means they can only see things that are right in front of them and have difficulty seeing things that are far away.
While this may seem like a disadvantage, it actually helps them when they are fighting. When a bull is fighting another bull, it will only focus on the other bull’s head.
It will not be distracted by anything else that is going on around it. This allows the bull to better target its opponent and hopefully come out victorious.
4. Deep Sea Fish
Deep sea fish have poor eyesight because they live in complete darkness. They do not need to be able to see clearly to get around or find food.
They use other methods to navigate and find their prey. Some deep sea fish have light-sensitive organs that help them sense where they are and what is around them.
Others have the ability to sense the electrical fields of other animals. This helps them locate their prey and avoid predators.
Even though they have poor eyesight, deep sea fish are still able to survive in the harsh conditions of the deep sea.
5. Moles
Moles are another animal that has poor eyesight. They live in underground burrows and only come out at night.
They use their sense of touch to navigate their way around and find food. Moles have very small eyes that are covered in fur.
This helps them to avoid predators and stay hidden from view. Even though they have poor eyesight, moles are still able to survive in the wild.
6. Hydra
Hydra is a small freshwater animal that has poor eyesight. It is a carnivorous animal that lives in murky waters.
Hydra uses its tentacles to sense the movement of its prey. Once it has located its prey, it will use its mouth to capture and eat it.
Even though hydra has poor eyesight, it is still able to survive in the wild by using its other senses to locate food.
7. Naked Mole-rat
The naked mole-rat is another animal that has poor eyesight. It is a small rodent that lives in underground burrows.
Like moles, they use their sense of touch to navigate their way around and find food. Naked mole-rats have very small eyes that are covered in fur.
This helps them to avoid predators and stay hidden from view. Even though they have poor eyesight, naked mole-rats are still able to survive in the wild.
8. Eyeless Shrimp
The eyeless shrimp is a small crustacean that lives in deep sea waters. As its name suggests, it does not have eyes.
Instead, it has light-sensitive organs that help it sense where it is and what is around it. Even though the eyeless shrimp has poor eyesight, it is still able to survive in the deep sea.
9. Deep Sea Lobster
The deep sea lobster is another animal that has poor eyesight. It is a large crustacean that lives in deep sea waters.
Like the eyeless shrimp, it has light-sensitive organs that help it sense where it is and what is around it.
Even though the deep sea lobster has poor eyesight, it is still able to survive in the deep sea.
10. Sinopoda Scurion
The Sinopoda Scurion is a large spider that lives in the rainforest. It has poor eyesight and is blind.
It uses its sense of touch to navigate its way around and find food. Even though it has poor eyesight, the Sinopoda Scurion is still able to survive in the wild.
11. Texas Blind Salamander
The Texas blind salamander is a small amphibian that lives in underground caves. It is blind and uses its sense of touch to navigate its way around.
Even though it has poor eyesight, the Texas blind salamander is still able to survive in the wild.
12. Kentucky Cavefish
The Kentucky cavefish is a small fish that lives in underground caves. It is blind and uses its sense of touch to navigate its way around.
Even though it has poor eyesight, the Kentucky cavefish is still able to survive in the wild.
13. Blind Cavefish
The blind cavefish is a small fish that lives in underground caves. It is blind and uses its sense of touch to navigate its way around.
Even though it has poor eyesight, the blind cavefish is still able to survive in the wild.
14. Cave Cricket
The cave cricket is a small insect that lives in underground caves. It is blind and uses its sense of touch to navigate its way around.
Even though it has poor eyesight, the cave cricket is still able to survive in the wild.
15. White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer is a large mammal that lives in forests and grasslands. It has poor eyesight and is colorblind.
It uses its sense of smell and hearing to navigate its way around and find food. Even though it has poor eyesight, the white-tailed deer is still able to survive in the wild.
Conclusion
While poor eyesight may seem like a hindrance, these animals have managed to adapt and thrive in the wild. Their poor eyesight is actually what helps them survive. So the next time you see an animal with bad eyesight, remember that they are just like us – they are trying to make the best of what they have!
Do you know any other animals with bad eyesight? Let us know in the comments below!