Eyeballing their prey
THEY’RE the perfect predator and it turns out crocodiles’ visual systems are even more advanced than previously believed.
Researchers have found the animals’ sight allows them to quickly adapt to their environment, better facilitating their “ambush” hunting techniques and life both in and out of the water.
University of Western Australia researcher Nicolas Nagloo said he was surprised to learn that crocodiles have relatively sophisticated colour vision.
And that colour vision seems to indicate the animals may be able to use their vision underwater more than humans thought.
Both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles are unable to focus underwater, however differences in their light receptors indicate they still use their vision under water.
Mr Nagloo said crocodiles were excellent predators known for quietly waiting at the water’s edge before e attackinging their preypreywithwith a burst of speed.
“They are experts at ambushing prey while remaining concealed and their heightened vision plays a big role in this,” Mr Nagloo said.
“The water surface makes up the majority of the bottom of the visual field and the visual horizon occurs along the riverbanks where crocodiles see best.”