albino gator <3
(If I had to choose a spirit animal)
the red eyeshine of the alligator occurs when light enters its eyes, passes through the rods (light receptors) and cones (color receptors) of the retina, strikes a membrane behind the retina called a tapeatum, and is then reflected back through the eye to the light source. most of the animals with eyeshine are, like alligators, night hunters who must make use of limited light. photos by larry lynch and david moynahan
an alligator has a tapetum lucidum at the back of each eye, which reflects light back into the photoreceptor cells to make the most of low light, and causes its eyes to glow red. photos by larry lynch and david moynahan
