Question about BP vision

[BrandiR]

I've heard/read that they don't see like we do. I've read a lot, and I'm a reasonably intelligent person, but I don't get it.
Explain? Anyone?

[FoxReptiles]

Good question. Found this.


Sight - Snakes do not see colors, but their eyes are equipped with a combination of light receptors: rods that provide low-light but fuzzy vision, and cones that produce clear images. The complexity of the eyes varies among species because of their different lifestyles. For instance, snakes that live primarily underground have smaller eyes that only process light and dark, but snakes that live above ground and hunt by sight have crystal-clear vision and good depth perception. Some species, specifically boas and pythons, have a second visual tool: Pit organs on their heads see heat sources in their surroundings like infrared goggles -- an effective ability for nocturnal hunters of warm-blooded animals.

Source: How Snakes Work

So. If their analogy is correct, pythons might see something more like the image below...



Also explains how hitting the head of that F/T rodent before offering it lets them know where to strike. In most rodents, the head is several degrees higher than the rest of their bodies (or so I hear.)

[BrandiR]

Good question. Found this.


Sight - Snakes do not see colors, but their eyes are equipped with a combination of light receptors: rods that provide low-light but fuzzy vision, and cones that produce clear images. The complexity of the eyes varies among species because of their different lifestyles. For instance, snakes that live primarily underground have smaller eyes that only process light and dark, but snakes that live above ground and hunt by sight have crystal-clear vision and good depth perception. Some species, specifically boas and pythons, have a second visual tool: Pit organs on their heads see heat sources in their surroundings like infrared goggles -- an effective ability for nocturnal hunters of warm-blooded animals.

Source: How Snakes Work

So. If their analogy is correct, pythons might see something more like the image below...



Also explains how hitting the head of that F/T rodent before offering it lets them know where to strike. In most rodents, the head is several degrees higher than the rest of their bodies (or so I hear.)

This is one of the things I read (How Snakes Work). I thought maybe I misunderstood because I've seen a lot of people claim that their snakes prefer a prey color over others. I've also seen people suggest trying a different colored prey item for a reluctant eater.

If they don't see the color...?

[RestlessRobie]

No they do not see in colors but even in black and white an all White male rodent looks and smells different than a Black and White female. Trust me some how they know the difference

[python_addict]

No they do not see in colors but even in black and white an all White male rodent looks and smells different than a Black and White female. Trust me some how they know the difference

Yes I had a ghost male that would not touch white rats but if it had a darker color he would grab it without hesitation

[FoxReptiles]

I don't imagine they would "see" 100% in infrared. Their eyes and the Pit organs are separate but I would imagine it's a combination of senses working at the same time. My pickiest eater seemed to be way more interested in a F/T mouse if I perked both of it's ear up before offering it to her. So I definitely think they pickup on the silhouette of their pray which could also be a reason that ASF rats trigger a better response with their more pronounced ears...

Then again, I could be reading into things too much.

[BrandiR]

I don't imagine they would "see" 100% in infrared. Their eyes and the Pit organs are separate but I would imagine it's a combination of senses working at the same time. My pickiest eater seemed to be way more interested in a F/T mouse if I perked both of it's ear up before offering it to her. So I definitely think they pickup on the silhouette of their pray which could also be a reason that ASF rats trigger a better response with their more pronounced ears...

Then again, I could be reading into things too much.

Mine (so far) will eat anything. I mostly feed live, but I tried to make millions of mice and they offed each other, so I froze them. She's eaten two of those with the same vigor as the live ones.

I was wondering if different colors smell different, or look different to the snake. Obviously, they do! Interesting.

[kitedemon]

The belief ball pythons do not see colour has been proven not to be true. They have limited colour vision, dichromatic vision (two colour). Ball/royal pythons have been shown to have very limited UV/blue visual spectrum vision. There is also very highly refined red/infrared sensitivity. The cones also run into the yellow spectrum. This means yellow/orange/red/IR near and middle can be seen easily. As humans we see from near UV through the spectrum to the near IR (deep red) end. Pythons fail to see the lower end of UV and blues but much deeper into the IR range than humans can. This we know from electro microscopy and dissection. The heat pits are basically connected to the optical nerve of the brain so they are also vision. What this looks like is unknown if they are able to separate information from the eyes and heat pits or if it is linked is still a mystery.

http://jeb.biologists.org/content/202/14/1931.full.pdf

[Alicia]

The belief ball pythons do not see colour has been proven not to be true. <snipped> The heat pits are basically connected to the optical nerve of the brain so they are also vision. What this looks like is unknown if they are able to separate information from the eyes and heat pits or if it is linked is still a mystery.

http://jeb.biologists.org/content/202/14/1931.full.pdf

Beat me to it!

So, yes, ball pythons see in color. Based on behavior, I know some people think snakes can sort their visual signals, if they're in IR or what is, to us, visual light and learn to ignore the visual . . . While the IR is always paid attention to. Really, to them, it's all visual light, but they register the difference.

It's worth pointing out, urine and other chemical trails will phosphoresce in UV light. Seeing in this end of spectrum may well allow balls (and other snakes that probably depend on it more) to track prey, find rodent trails to ambush like other pythons, and find potential mates.

[BrandiR]

Excellent feedback from everyone! Thanks!
BP.net is the new Google