It may sound unbelievable, but reindeer eyes change from a blazing gold in the summer to a deep, dark blue in the winter. However, this isn't the kind of color change you might expect, as it usually can't be seen in most photographs. So, what exactly is happening? Read on to discover why reindeer eyes change color and how this adaptation benefits them in the wild.
The seasonal eye color change in reindeer is unique among mammals, but plenty of other creatures display eye adaptations for different light environments. For instance, cats and dogs have tapeta that boost night vision year-round, but they don't alter color. 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. All animals, including humans, can adapt their eyes to the changing level of light. In dark conditions, muscles in the irises contract to dilate the pupils and allow more light into the eyes.
When it's bright again, the irises widen and the pupils shrink. The same thing happens to reindeers. But when the arctic winter brings perpetual darkness for months on end, something more happens to.
The tapetum is the reason why cat or raccoon eyes look strangely reflective at night. So why does the reindeer tapetum turn blue in winter? The answer probably has to do with maximizing light absorption in the blue and sub-blue range - during the long, dark twilight hours of winter. 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.
Discover the incredible adaptation of reindeer that allows them to change eye color with the seasons! 🌟 In this fascinating video, we explore how reindeer eyes shift from gold in summer to blue. 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.
Reddit - Usrname132 Reindeer, or caribou in North America, have an incredibly unique genetic adaption to help them see better regardless of season or light condition. In the summertime, reindeer can be seen sporting a set of golden eyes, while in winter, they are a striking blue. Researchers have gotten to the bottom of this phenomenon.
The Arctic Tundra Canva. An astrophysicist and an eye expert teamed up to solve the mystery of how and why reindeers' eyes switch from yellow to blue in wintertime.