Even though animals differ greatly in size, their eyes seem to have similar dimensions. As a result the eyes of small or young animals look proportionately larger than our own. Why?

Concerned

It is time to reduce your medication Nude Dude. Dec 17 02, 12:51 AM

Bryce

Concerned you are a bully, Nude Dude I appreciate your challenging questions. Now, for my answer - An image of the outside world is focused on the retina composed of mosaic rods and cones. Their diameters are roughly equal to the wavelength of light. If the eye is to distinguish between two small objects, their images must fall on seperate elements. Thus with fewer rods and cones, the image of the outside world would be subdivided into a smaller number of pieces, and we would see less distinctly. On the other hand, the size of the rods and cones can't get much smaller for then they they would not respond to visible light at all. Remember that rods and cones are in a way like antennas which must always be the size of the wavelengths recieved. Thus we see that the eyes must have a certain minimum size to be of any use at all. However, there is no need for them to be much larger. Consequently an elephant's eyes are only slightly larger than ours. Dec 17 02, 2:41 AM

Occularitor

Interesting answer Bryce, but it doesn't answer the question viz. As a result the eyes of small or young animals look proportionately larger than our own. Why? Dec 17 02, 8:32 AM

Bennett

The eyes don't grow as we get older, once they have reached a certain size when we are babies they don't need to grow. Eyes don't have to be big to see everything. Dec 17 02, 4:02 PM

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