Sharks and rays vision science: every measurement
The vision values of all 67 sharks and rays on this site, one row each, with the evidence level of every value and the studies behind it. Species with enough measured values also have their own science page.
Measured values by dial
| Dial | Species with a measured value |
|---|---|
| Colour | 33 |
| Sharpness | 30 |
| Field of view | 0 |
| Sharp zones (foveas) | 0 |
| Night vision | 0 |
| Motion (flicker fusion) | 19 |
All sharks and rays, value by value
Evidence levels: how the tiers work. Studies: sources.
| Species | Colour | Sharpness | Field of view | Sharp zones (foveas) | Night vision | Motion (flicker fusion) | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian butterfly ray Gymnura australis | 2 receptor classes: 466.8 nm (SWS (blue)), 556 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 29 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish |
| Australian ghostshark Callorhinchus milii | 1 receptor class: 551 nm (LWS (long)) Measured | 2.5 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 28.5 Hz Group default | luxR_0.1.1_species_sensitivities, caves2023_depth, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, haarlem2026_figshare, healy2013_tbl1, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Australian sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon taylori | 1 receptor class: 533.1 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 6.458 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | - | 37.5 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, haarlem2026_figshare |
| Big skate Beringraja binoculata | 1 receptor class: 497 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 26.9 Hz Estimated | murphy_westerman2022_tableS1, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, haarlem2026_figshare, healy2013_tbl1 |
| Bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus | 3 receptor classes: 475 nm (SWS (blue)), 533 nm (MWS (green)), 562 nm (LWS (long)) Group default | 10.56 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 29 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, haarlem2026_figshare, healy2013_tbl1 |
| Blackbelly lanternshark Etmopterus lucifer | 3 receptor classes: 475 nm (SWS (blue)), 533 nm (MWS (green)), 562 nm (LWS (long)) Group default | 2.53 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 20 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Blackmouth catshark Galeus melastomus | 1 receptor class: 484 nm (MWS (green)) Estimated | 4.09 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 16.1 Hz Estimated | PMC4843165_text, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus | 1 receptor class: 480 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 6.534 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | - | 18 Hz Measured | murphy_westerman2022_tableS1, caves2023_depth, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus | 1 receptor class: 527.8 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.77 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 36 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus | 1 receptor class: 531.9 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 6.534 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | - | 36 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Blue shark Prionace glauca | 1 receptor class: 534 nm (MWS (green)) Estimated | 6.667 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 37.5 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, haarlem2026_figshare, healy2013_tbl1 |
| Blue-spotted stingray Neotrygon kuhlii | 2 receptor classes: 475.9 nm (SWS (blue)), 552 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 29 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish |
| Bonnethead Sphyrna tiburo | 1 receptor class: 483 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 6.72 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | - | 31 Hz Measured | murphy_westerman2022_tableS1, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Bottlenose wedgefish Rhynchobatus australiae | 2 receptor classes: 475.1 nm (SWS (blue)), 554.8 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 45 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Brownbanded bamboo shark science page Chiloscyllium punctatum | 1 receptor class: 531.9 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 1.8 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 44 Hz Measured | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2024, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Bull shark Carcharhinus leucas | 1 receptor class: 554.2 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 4.167 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 36 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Carpenter's chimaera Chimaera lignaria | 1 receptor class: 551 nm (LWS (long)) Group default | 2.941 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 28.5 Hz Group default | luxR_0.1.1_species_sensitivities, caves2023_depth, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish, haarlem2026_figshare, healy2013_tbl1, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Chain catshark Scyliorhinus retifer | 1 receptor class: 488 nm (MWS (green)) Measured | 3.445 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | - | 3.2 Hz Estimated | PMC4843165_text, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Common stingaree Trygonoptera testacea | 2 receptor classes: 480.9 nm (MWS (green)), 556.8 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 29 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish |
| Cookie cutter shark Isistius brasiliensis | 3 receptor classes: 475 nm (SWS (blue)), 533 nm (MWS (green)), 562 nm (LWS (long)) Group default | 2.61 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 20 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus | 2 receptor classes: 470 nm (SWS (blue)), 551 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 29 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish |
| Dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis | 3 receptor classes: 475 nm (SWS (blue)), 533 nm (MWS (green)), 562 nm (LWS (long)) Group default | 7.47 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 20 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Dusky smooth-hound Mustelus canis | 1 receptor class: 534 nm (MWS (green)) Group default | 5.92 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 13 Hz Measured | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Dwarf spotted wobbegong shark Orectolobus parvimaculatus | 1 receptor class: 552.9 nm (LWS (long)) Estimated | 3.846 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 42 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Eastern fiddler ray Trygonorrhina fasciata | 2 receptor classes: 470.1 nm (SWS (blue)), 568 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 45 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Eastern shovelnose ray Aptychotrema rostrata | 2 receptor classes: 458.9 nm (SWS (blue)), 553.1 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 45 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum | 1 receptor class: 531.9 nm (MWS (green)) Estimated | 2.8 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 40 Hz Measured | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Estuary stingray Hemitrygon fluviorum | 2 receptor classes: 474.9 nm (SWS (blue)), 566 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 29 Hz Group default | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, PMC3863422_midatlantic_reef_fish |
| Giant shovelnose ray Glaucostegus typus | 3 receptor classes: 477 nm (SWS (blue)), 502 nm (MWS (green)), 561 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 3.98 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | - | 45 Hz Group default | species_v1:Hart et al. 2004, caves2023_depth, caves2024, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Great hammerhead shark Sphyrna mokarran | 1 receptor class: 534 nm (MWS (green)) Group default | 6.72 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | - | 29.15 Hz Estimated | hart2020_shark_opsins_manual2, vpod_in_vivo_scp, claes2014_sharks, lafitte2022_s10 |
Carcharodon carcharias
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Heterodontus francisci
Scyliorhinus torazame
Negaprion brevirostris
Leucoraja erinacea
Orectolobus ornatus
Rhinochimaera pacifica
Carcharhinus amboinensis
Squalus acanthias
Pateobatis fai
Heterodontus portusjacksoni
Haploblepharus edwardsii
Taeniura lymma
Carcharias taurus
Carcharhinus plumbeus
Sphyrna lewini
Squalus mitsukurii
Squaliolus aliae
Scyliorhinus canicula
Sphyrna zygaena
Mustelus mustelus
Potamotrygon motoro
Etmopterus splendidus
Hydrolagus colliei
Orectolobus maculatus
Mustelus manazo
Cephaloscyllium ventriosum
Platyrhinoidis triseriata
Galeocerdo cuvier
Etmopterus spinax
Trigonognathus kabeyai
Aptychotrema vincentiana
Orectolobus hutchinsi
Aetobatus narinari
Leucoraja ocellata
Urobatis jamaicensis
Method: how we know what animals see. Accuracy: the census.