DISTINGUISHING PREY FROM PREDATOR: A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING EYE CHARACTERISTICS

One can indeed differentiate between prey and predator by examining their eyes. The pupil shape is a key indicator of an animal's position in the food chain and reflects its ecological niche. 

Predators typically possess vertical pupils, which enable them to focus intently on their target prey in varying light conditions and remain active throughout the day and night. On the other hand, animals with horizontal pupils are usually herbivores and considered prey. These creatures require a broader visual range to identify approaching predators and plan escape routes.

Circular pupils are predominantly found in active foragers or animals that pursue their prey. Furthermore, the placement of the eyes plays a crucial role in distinguishing prey from predators. Prey animals generally have eyes positioned on the sides of their head, allowing for a more expansive field of vision to detect threats from multiple directions. In contrast, predators' eyes are situated more frontally, providing better depth perception, three-dimensional object recognition, and distance estimation capabilities.

Source: Science Advances