c/superbowl · by anon6789@lemmy.world · 93d

Eyeball Armor

Screech owls have a built-in third eyelid, called a nictitating membrane, that sweeps diagonally across the eye. It acts like a clear shield, protecting the eye from debris while still allowing the owl to see. This helps them hunt and move through dense branches without losing sight of their surroundings.

All owls have these membranes, to my knowledge. They also help keep the eyes from drying out while flying.

118 points · 11 comments · view on lemmy.world

11 Comments

Nima@leminal.space · 13 pts · 93d (1 reply)

whoaaaa they have built in aviator goggles! =D

anon6789@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 93d

I don't wanna know how dry those eyes would get without them! Ouch!

rain_worl@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 93d (1 reply)

angry

anon6789@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 93d

I believe it's a requirement for owls to be at least 99.9% cranky at all times.

Doesn't stop me from loving them though 😁

vermeil@feddit.org · 2 pts · 92d (2 replies)

As far as I know cats also have them.

anon6789@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 92d (1 reply)

Lots of animals do! And what if I told you that you are (kinda sorta) one of them?!

This little bit is what is thought to be left of ours.

From Wikipedia:

Fully developed nictitating membranes are found in fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, but are rare in primates. In humans, the plica semilunaris (also known as the semilunar fold) and its associated muscles are homologous to the nictitating membranes seen in some other mammals and other vertebrates. In most primate species, a plica semilunaris is generally not present, although fully developed nictitating membranes can be found in lemurs and lorisoid primates. Some mammals, such as camels, polar bears, seals and aardvarks, have full nictitating membranes, and many mammals retain a small, vestigial portion of the membrane in the corner of the eye.

vermeil@feddit.org · 2 pts · 92d

Cool. Wish mine were still working - every day I have to fish some lashes out of my eyes.

Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 2 pts · 93d (1 reply)

Don't many birds/lizards/snakes have these?

Still neat! (And a great shot of the membrane).

Also, that owl is tired of your crap kids, so settle down and get in bed.

anon6789@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 89d

Yes they do!

So do our dog and cat friends, and also sharks.

We humans also have vestigial ones!

Wahots@pawb.social · 2 pts · 92d (1 reply)

I wish I had this for pollen when I'm out biking in spring.

anon6789@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 92d

Make them tinted and/or polarized and you'd be all set! 😎