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How does the tapetum lucidum help cats see at night?

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Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) with tufted ears and spotted fur walking through snow in a winter landscape. — feline The Eurasian lynx (*Lynx lynx*), a member of the family Felidae, can be found in forests that range from Scandinavia to far eastern Russia. It is the largest member of the genus *Lynx* and the third largest predator in Europe.

The tapetum lucidum is a reflective layer of cells located behind the retina that acts as a mirror-like surface within the eye.12

When light enters a cat's eye, it passes through the retina to strike the tapetum lucidum, which then reflects the light back outward. This process provides a second opportunity for the eye's visual pigments to absorb the light, allowing the animal to utilize ambient light with extreme efficiency. Because of this mechanism, cats require only one-sixth of the illumination levels that humans need to see well, which is a vital adaptation for their crepuscular hunting lifestyle. This reflection is also responsible for the "eyeshine" often observed in low-light conditions.12