Reindeer Eye Color Winter
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. 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. 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.
Arctic Reindeer Eyes
Reindeer have a survival trick unlike any other animal - their eyes actually change color with the seasons. Golden in summer, deep blue in winter, this shift helps them adapt to the Arctic's. The claim: Photos show reindeer have golden eyes in the summer and blue eyes in the winter Reindeer are often associated with a red nose.
Reindeer don't have red noses, but their eyes do turn green to blue in the winter. Scientists are finally figuring out why. Factually, the eye-color change that takes place in winter makes the eyes between 100 to 1,000 times more light sensitive.
Arctic reindeer eyes change color in winter - The Explorers
By changing the color of the TL in the eye, reindeer have flexibility to cope better with the extreme differences between light levels in their habitat between seasons. Reindeer change the color of a reflective layer in their eyes between summer and winter to deal with months. The reindeer's color-changing feat is subtle enough that it eluded the notice of scientists for many years.
The tapetum lucidum, is wedged in the back of each eye behind the retina, where it helps many nocturnal mammals better see their surroundings at night. Why do reindeer's eyes change color with the seasons? In this video, Alex Dainis explains why reindeer eyes change color from orange-gold in the summer to blue in the winter. This change allows them to UV light in the winter time, which might seem counterintuitive because of their bright, snowy habitat.
Arctic Reindeer Eyes
However, the reindeers' food source is a light colored lichen that absorbs UV.
