Goat eyes: the structure and features of the pupils, the pros and cons, diseases

The eyes of animals differ in approximately the same structure. At the same time, goats have some features. The key difference is in the shape of the pupil. The eyes of a goat are characterized not by the usual round pupil, but by a rectangular one. Because they look very unusual. At the same time, not everyone knows why small horned individuals have such a strange structure of the eyeball.

The structure of the eye

Goats, like other animals, have an organ of visual analysis. It includes a number of elements that form one chain. Thanks to this, animals can live and function normally in their familiar environment.

The main components of the organ of vision include:

Eyelid - protects the eyeball from external factors and takes part in moisturizing the surface of the sclera.
Brain departments - are involved in processing the information received, converting it into electrical impulses and moving to other areas of the brain.
Optic nerve - responsible for transmitting information from the eyes to specific parts of the brain.
Bone Frame - Helps protect and hold eye muscles.
Muscular-muscular tissues - help keep the eyeball in the right place and are responsible for its movements.

A characteristic feature of goats and goats is an unusual look. It is due to the non-standard rectangular shape of the pupil.

Why does a goat need a pupil of this shape?

Custom pupils help the goat see 340 degrees without turning its head. This protects the animal from danger. During the day, in bright light conditions, the pupil narrows greatly. As a result, it looks like 2 horizontal slots. This provides the animal with UV protection. With the advent of darkness, the pupils dilate. As a result, they take the form of a regular rectangle. If the room is dark or the goat is frightened, the pupils become square.

Thanks to this transformation option, it is possible to adapt the animal's vision to the optimal level of illumination. This allows the goat to see even at night, which makes it possible to notice the predator in time and escape.

Because animals graze in herds in natural conditions, they are placed so that you can see the whole area around.

It is worth noting that with such an excellent viewing angle and excellent night vision, animals are not able to judge the distance to the objects that surround them. Sometimes the goats can't even figure out where to go. This is due to the poor development of spatial vision.

The appearance of the shape of the pupils of goats

The pupils of animals have evolved over millions of years. It is assumed that at first they differed in a rounded shape. However, as a result of the constant influence of ultraviolet radiation, these elements began to gradually narrow. When eating, goats hang their heads low. That is why their pupils narrowed horizontally.

This form allows animals to assess the environment without stopping eating.

After some time, muscles began to appear in the structure of the eyeball. They helped to narrow the pupils to slit-like when exposed to bright sun. Reducing the saturation of the light causes relaxation of these muscles. Thanks to this, goats could eat food without deterioration of visual functions.Thus, goat pupils have acquired an unusual appearance over the years of evolution.

Pros and cons

Unusual horizontal pupils give animals unique visual abilities. At the same time, there are some disadvantages that are characteristic of such a structure of the organ of vision. The key advantage of such a structure is a high degree of visibility. In the wild, animals see all the dangers, which helps them protect themselves from predators.

Due to their individual characteristics, goats should spend most of the day on the pasture. Thanks to the unique structure of their eyes, they are able to keep the horizon under control without lifting their heads from the feed. When danger appears, the goat warns the rest of the herd about this. Thanks to their good eyesight, animals are able to see in the dark and survive in unusual conditions.

At the same time, some shortcomings are also characteristic of the non-standard form of pupils.Due to the wide viewing angle, goats are deprived of spatial vision. It is difficult for them to estimate the size of objects or the distance to them. Because goats are considered very shy. They try to leave the danger zone in advance.

Eye color

Usually, the iris of goats has a yellow tint. It has varying degrees of intensity. Pets with light brown eyes are also common. Blue-eyed animals are extremely rare. As a rule, they are distinguished by white wool.

Diseases

Pathologies of the eyes are the result of lesions of internal organs or systems. In some cases, the appearance of the eyes can be diagnosed. So, yellowing of the sclera indicates diseases of the liver or gallbladder. Redness or the appearance of a network of blood vessels on proteins is often associated with internal inflammation in the body.

The most common pathology in goats is conjunctivitis. With such a disease, hyperemia, inflammation, excessive release of lacrimal fluid are observed. External factors that cause the development of pathology include:

mechanical damage to the outer part of the organ of vision;
get foreign objects on mucous membranes;
exposure to drafts or cold air;
development of infections or infection with pathogenic bacteria.

Among the internal factors that cause conjunctivitis, there are viral diseases. When a disease appears, it is recommended to take immediate measures to eliminate the symptoms and causes. In this case, immediate veterinary consultation is required.

The eyes of goats have a non-standard structure. The main distinguishing feature of the animal's organ of vision is the rectangular pupil. It performs specific functions and helps pets protect themselves in case of danger.