Night vision capabilities vary dramatically between humans and nocturnal animals. While humans see very little color in low light, many animals have specialized adaptations:
- Cats and dogs have a reflective layer called tapetum lucidum that enhances night vision
- Owls have extremely large eyes with more rod cells for better night vision
- Deep-sea creatures often see only in blue wavelengths due to limited light penetration
Most animals sacrifice color vision at night in favor of enhanced light sensitivity. Their eyes contain more rod cells (for light detection) than cone cells (for color), allowing them to see better in dim conditions.