Are Reptiles Colorblind?
Many people think reptiles don’t see well, but the truth is that many can see colors—some even better than humans! But how does their vision work, and what colors can they see? Let’s take a closer look!
How Reptile Eyes Work
Like humans, reptiles have special cells in their eyes called photoreceptors. These cells come in two types:
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Rods – Help with seeing in the dark but don’t detect color.
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Cones – Detect colors and work best in bright light.
Humans have three types of cone cells that help us see red, green, and blue. Many reptiles have four types of cone cells, which makes them tetrachromatic. This means they can see a wider range of colors than humans, including ultraviolet (UV) light, which is invisible to us.
How Does Reptile Vision Compare to Ours?
Because reptiles can see UV light and more colors than humans, their vision is quite impressive. Here’s how their sight differs from ours:
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Seeing Ultraviolet Light – Many reptiles, like turtles and lizards, can see UV light!
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Better Color Distinction – Their extra cone cells allow them to notice colors and patterns that humans can’t see.
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Differences Between Species – Some reptiles, like chameleons, have amazing color vision, while nocturnal reptiles (active at night) rely more on night vision and see fewer colors.
Why Is Color Vision Important for Reptiles?
Color vision helps reptiles in many ways, such as:
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Finding Mates – Many reptiles have bright colors or change color to attract a mate.
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Camouflage & Defense – Some reptiles change color to blend in and avoid predators.
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Hunting & Finding Food – Turtles use color vision to find ripe fruit, and other reptiles spot prey more easily.
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Social Signals – Some species change color to show dominance, submission, or stress.
Do All Reptiles See Color the Same Way?
Different reptiles have different levels of color vision. Here are a few examples:
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Chameleons – Can see a wide range of colors, including UV light, and change color for communication.
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Turtles – Have strong color vision and use UV light to find food.
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Snakes – Some nocturnal snakes have limited color vision and rely on heat-sensing pits to detect warm-blooded prey in low light conditions.
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Geckos – Many nocturnal geckos can see colors even in low light, which helps them hunt at night.
How Does Reptile's Sight Affect Our Care For Them?
Now that we know reptiles can see UV light, colors, and patterns that humans can't, an argument can be made for providing access to UVB and full spectrum lighting to all captive reptiles, including species that do not require UVB to survive. While it is common knowledge that diurnal reptiles with a basking requirement require a heat source and benefit from their basking source originating from visible light, it is less accepted to offer lighting that is considered optional, even when studies have shown that full spectrum lighting greatly benefits captive animal's mental health.
It is known that the presence of UV and full spectrum lighting significantly changes the way a reptile interacts with their environment.
By offering UVB / full spectrum lighting to the animals we keep, we can create an even more natural, enriching habitat for our animals.
To learn even more about reptiles and improving captive husbandry standards, check out our hundreds of other blog posts!
