SPECIES: Tinca tinca

MY EYES HAVE A PANORAMA APP

Its eyes are not much bigger than a thumbnail— and yet Tinca tinca can see pretty much everything at a glance. That’s because the animal’s reddishyellow eyes are situated on the sides of its head and cover almost 180 degrees each. The result: a nearly 360- degree panoramic view that encompasses front and back. A tiny blind spot at the back of its body is the only sneak attack zone for predators. Another high-tech feature: Unlike human eyes, each Tinca tinca eye has four ( rather than three) types of cones so the animals are also able to perceive ultraviolet light— short- wave light rays that are completely invisible to humans. But being able to see more doesn’t necessarily translate into an ability to see better. So while the animal’s sight is very sharp for up to 10 centimeters, everything beyond that is a blur.