I've noticed that my corn snake's eyes shine like a cat's in some lighting. Do they have the same special membrane that reflects light and aids low light vision? Are there lots of snakes with this?
Fantastic question. Snakes do not have a tapetum lucidum (the light-reflecting layer in the eyes that cats and dogs have). Tapeta lucida do pop in reptiles, but they’re only really found in archosaurs - that’s the dinosaur branch of the family tree.
Crocodilians have strongly reflective tapeta lucida, as do many birds.
As you noticed, however, snakes do have an eyeshine in the right light! They’re an example of animals who have eyeshine in the right light without a tapetum lucidum. What’s going on with snakes is that you can sometimes see the reflection of light bouncing off the capillaries in their eyes. That’s why their eyeshine is so mild in comparison and why you can only see it in exactly the right lighting conditions.
autism is living by vampire rules. light sensitivity. eating the wrong food makes you want to die. need to be explicitly invited places. weird sleep schedule. eating the same thing every time. specific rituals and routines. burst into flames at the sight of a crucifix. etc.
uhh bio stuff right, i love art and drawing but i don't post much of it here anymore, im nonbinary, i like a lot of things so this blogs kinda just my reblog dump for all kinds of media
but if you want to see my art my Instagram and artful are mcpicklebreath
dont go looking at my "posts a lot about" search tag thing, im a different person now ive had this blog for like 1billion years, i no longer like kpop fandom stuff i just dont care enough to remake my blog
