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Northern mole vole vision: the science and the numbers

Ellobius talpinus · order Rodentia · Mammals: all the numbers

Its sharpest vision resolves 0.9 cycles per degree, against 63.75 for people in this dataset.[5] Its activity pattern is nocturnal.[11][12]

See it on your photoBack to How does the northern mole vole see?
  • 0.9cycles per degree (sharpness)Measured

The northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus) is a mammal in the order Rodentia. Its eyes belong to the vision type Small prey mammal (UV): two or three cone types, often including ultraviolet, low sharpness and a near-panoramic field. Measured in this species: sharpness, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What the northern mole vole sees: colour receptors

Northern mole vole colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmNorthern mole vole: 2 receptor peaks at 360, 500 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Northern mole vole: 360, 500 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • Its sharpest vision resolves 0.9 cycles per degree: the finest stripe pattern it can tell apart from grey.
  • Activity pattern: nocturnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
2 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 500 nm (MWS (green))
receptor set of nearest measured relative Phodopus sungorus (same family Cricetidae)
Estimated[1]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[1][2][3][4]
Ultraviolet
yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet		Estimated
SharpnessAcuity
0.9 cycles per degree
median of 1 anatomical-ganglion rows (method priority rule)
Measured[5]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[6][5]
Field of viewBinocular overlap
80°
median of 3 relatives in family Cricetidae: Mesocricetus auratus, Neotoma floridana, Onychomys leucogaster
Estimated[7][8]Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[7][8]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[9]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[9]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[7][8]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
0
fovea_present / area_centralis_type (retinal topography; count 1 = fovea present, 0 = none)
Measured[10]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[10]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[10]
Fovea type
none		Measured[10]
Night visionActivity pattern
nocturnal
tie ['diurnal', 'nocturnal'] broken by the broader category (round-3 tie-break rule 3: cathemeral > crepuscular > nocturnal > diurnal) (of 2 rows): diurnal; nocturnal
Measured (not re-verified)[11][12]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[13][14][11][1][15][16][17][12]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[18][19]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[20]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[13][14][11][1][15][16][17][12]
Rods vs cones
rod-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[11][12]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
62.5 Hz
median of 7 relatives in order Rodentia: Rattus norvegicus, Cavia porcellus, Mus musculus, Callospermophilus lateralis, Tamias amoenus, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Group default[21][22][23][24]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[22][23]

All mammals side by side: Mammals: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Longcore 2023
  2. Kirwan
  3. Müller et al. 2009
  4. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  5. Veilleux et al. 2014
  6. Kirk et al. 2004
  7. Heesy 2004
  8. Heffner et al. 1992
  9. Campbell & Green 1965
  10. Kopania et al. 2025
  11. Wilman et al. 2014
  12. Moura et al. 2024
  13. Anderson et al. 2017
  14. Borges et al. 2018
  15. Maor et al. 2017
  16. Jones et al. 2009
  17. Schmitz et al. 2011
  18. Banks et al. 2015
  19. Cervino et al. 2021
  20. Guareschi et al. 2025
  21. Haarlem et al. 2026
  22. Healy et al. 2013
  23. Inger et al. 2014
  24. Lafitte et al. 2022

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.