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. Reindeer are the only animals known to change eye color in the winter, but the effect isn't so outwardly obvious. 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.
Reindeer change the color of a reflective layer in their eyes between summer and winter to deal with months. 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. It is within this cultural context that myths and legends surrounding reindeer eyes changing color find their roots. In folklore, the eyes are often considered windows to the soul, and reindeers are no exception.
The reflective quality of their eyes, attributed to the tapetum lucidum, is seen as a mystical feature. 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.
However, the reindeers' food source is a light colored lichen that absorbs UV. Why do reindeer's eyes change color with the seasons? In this video, Alex Dainis explains why reindeer eyes change color from orange.