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Crocodiles don't focus underwater |
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| Authors: | L J Fleishman H C Howland M J Howland A S Rand and M L Davenport |
| Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of Texas, 78712 Austin, Texas, USA;(2) Division of Biological Sciences, Cornell University, 14853 Ithaca, New York, USA;(3) Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 2072, Balboa, Republic of Panama;(4) Department of Herpetology, National Zoological Park, 20008 Washington, DC, USA |
| Abstract: | Summary Crocodilians are amphibious reptiles which hunt prey both on land and in water. Previous refractive and anatomical studies have suggested that their eyes can focus objects in air and that their ability to refocus the eye underwater may be limited. Examination of the plane of focus of six species of crocodilians both in air and underwater has revealed that they are generally well focused in air for distant targets and severely defocused underwater. These results suggest that sensory systems other than vision must play an important role in prey capture underwater.Abbreviation D diopter |
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