What colors can animals see?
Fewer than you, or more. A dog has 2 colour types where you have 3, while 126 animals here have more than 3 and 125 see ultraviolet. Pick an animal and tap the wheel to see how your colours change.
2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
The hatched outer band stands for ultraviolet: colours you can't see, shown as a pattern.
- Red: you see the left one, a dog sees the right one.
- Green: you see the left one, a dog sees the right one.
- Blue: you see the left one, a dog sees the right one.
A simulation made from published eye studies. Not what the animal feels.
The animals on the wheel
- Dog: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Rock pigeon: 4 colour types, you have 3.
- Tawny owl: 4 colour types, you have 3.
- Western honey bee: 3 colour types, you have 3. A western honey bee also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Cat: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Peacock mantis shrimp: 10 colour types, you have 3.
- Brownbanded bamboo shark: 1 colour type, you have 3. With one colour type there is no hue at all: only light and dark.
- Horse: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Cow: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Goldfish: 4 colour types, you have 3. A goldfish also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Chicken: 4 colour types, you have 3.
- Asian swallowtail: 5 colour types, you have 3. An Asian swallowtail also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Monarch butterfly: 8 colour types, you have 3. A monarch butterfly also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Budgerigar: 4 colour types, you have 3. A budgerigar also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Pig: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Sheep: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Brown rat: 2 colour types, you have 3. A brown rat also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- House mouse: 2 colour types, you have 3. A house mouse also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Bottlenose dolphin: 1 colour type, you have 3. With one colour type there is no hue at all: only light and dark.
- White-tailed deer: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Green anole: 4 colour types, you have 3. A green anole also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- European starling: 4 colour types, you have 3. An European starling also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Northern leopard frog: 2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike.
- Common buzzard: 4 colour types, you have 3.
- Mallard: 4 colour types, you have 3.
- Indian peafowl: 4 colour types, you have 3.
- Rook: 4 colour types, you have 3. A rook also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Blue tit: 4 colour types, you have 3. A blue tit also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- House sparrow: 4 colour types, you have 3. A house sparrow also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
- Common blackbird: 4 colour types, you have 3. A common blackbird also sees ultraviolet, which you can't.
What colors can dogs see?
2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike. On the wheel, red and green both look yellow-brown.
What colors can cats see?
2 colour types, you have 3. Reds and greens look alike. On the wheel, red and green both look yellow-brown.
Which animals see ultraviolet?
125 animals on this site, from bees and butterflies to many birds and fish. See the full list.
Do any animals see no colour at all?
Yes: 206 animals here have one colour type, so they see light and dark only. For example the northern lampfish, the aesop shrimp and the American lobster.
Which animals see more colours than people?
126 animals here have more than 3 colour types. 199 have 2, like dogs and cats.
More to play with: which animal has the best eyesight? · who can see behind them?