Do reindeer's eyes really change color? If so, why, and how does this adaptation actually work in the wild? The back of the eye behind the retina changes color between summer and winter. It's not visible externally, though, as these pictures claim to show. Why Reindeer Eyes Change Color with the Seasons: Reindeer Eye Color Mystery Solved Reindeer, also known as caribou in North America, inhabit some of the coldest and darkest parts of our planet.
These remarkable creatures face months of near. Rudolf may have had a glowing red nose, but real Arctic reindeer have eyes that shine a different hue depending on the season - deep blue in the cold, dark winter, and golden in the summer. For more than a decade, no one could explain the color difference.
Now, a study conducted by Glen Jeffery, from the University College London, suggests a reason behind this mysterious seasonal change. Reindeer eyes change color during the winter, from golden to blue, something researchers say helps them to capture more light during the Arctic's dark winter months. One part of an Arctic reindeer's eyes changes color in winter and increases the sensitivity of the animal's vision.
Some indigenous communities believe that the eyes of a reindeer can reveal insights into its spiritual essence or even convey messages from the natural world. The notion that the eyes might change color with the seasons could be a poetic interpretation of the shifts in the spiritual energy associated with each time of the year. Key Takeaways Reindeer eyes transform from golden in summer to blue in winter due to changes in the tapetum lucidum.
The color change enhances light sensitivity, making winter eyes 1,000 times more sensitive than summer eyes. Winter eyes allow up to 60% of UV light to enter, improving vision in low-light Arctic conditions. The adaptation helps reindeer locate lichen, their primary food source.
Reindeer change the color of a reflective layer in their eyes between summer and winter to deal with months. Blue Eyes Facebook - Complete Computing SW Ltd When the seasons change and reindeer is plunged in the dark winter months of the Arctic, the reflective layer at the back of their eye turns a stunning blue and scatters the light available inside of the eye rather than reflecting it back.