While big eyes may be a staple of cuteness as far as we’re concerned, they also serve important functions in the wild for many of these animals. Many of the animals on this list are cute and furry, others are strange and unique, but they all have big eyes. In this article we’ll show you 15 animals with big eyes from all walks of life, with something for all types of animal lovers.
Let’s dive in!
There are practically endless creatures known for their huge and often adorable eyes, from mammals to reptiles and amphibians, let’s have a look at 15 of them.
1. Owls
When thinking of big-eyed animals, an owl might be the first one that comes to mind. They are known for having large eyes that allow for them to see at night, which aids in their hunting. While these adorable creatures have big eyes, they aren’t able to easily move them, which is why owls are known for the way they swivel their heads.
2. Pottos
The Potto is a primate in the Lorisidae family. Much like the owl, the Potto has large eyes to help with its night vision. This allows them to see even in low light, seeking out their prey.
3. Galagos
The Galago, often referred to as bushbabies, are another big-eyed primate belonging to Lorisidae. They stay in the rainforest, hunting at night and staying in the trees during the day. With their excellent night vision they can easily hunt for prey, like insects or even small birds. This animal is also known for being a great jumper, able to travel between branches with ease.
4. Slow Loris
Slow Loris is another big-eyed primate and may be one of the cutest additions to this list. Like many other animals with enhanced night vision, the Slow Loris is mainly nocturnal. Also called Kukang, they mostly eat fruits and water plants, but will also go after small lizards or bugs. They’re shy animals and tend to stay hidden in the branches of trees. The slow loris is the only venomous primate on earth.
5. Tarsiers
Another nocturnal primate, the Tarsier is found in forests of Southern Asia. While it makes the list for its cuteness and huge eyes, it’s considered a predator primate. It’s known for hunting lizards and birds, with a long neck that makes this even easier. The Tarsier has the largest eyes of any mammal. Despite having great night vision, they aren’t able to see most colors.
6. Lemurs
The Lemur is one of the more famous big-eyed animals and is known widely for how adorable it is. This primate is found in Madagascar, Africa, and has some of the best night vision of any animal on this list. With this enhanced sight, it can catch its prey easier than most nocturnal primates.
7. Tree Frogs
The Tree Frog is the first amphibian on this list, and its big eyes make it one of the cutest frog species there is. Found in the rainforests of Central America, this animal is true to its name and spends most of the day in trees. Three eyelids contribute to their great vision and expert hunting skills.
8. Four Eyed Fish
Despite their name, the four-eyed fish actually just has two large eyes, earning it a spot on this list. The eyes are divided into separate pupils, giving them the appearance of having four. This unique characteristic gives it nearly perfect vision by allowing the fish to see above water and underwater at the same time, making them impeccable hunters. Despite their predator skills, the Four-Eyed Fish strikes many as adorable.
9. Leaf-Tailed Geckos
This big-eyed lizard is the first reptile on our list. The Leaf-Tailed Gecko has vertical pupils that allow it to detect colours at night. Every species of gecko, including this lizard, can see 350 times better than people.
10. Kinkajous
The Kinkajou can be found in both Central and South America and is an extremely intelligent animal. Their large eyes allow them to have great night vision so they can easily detect objects and other animals in low light.
11. Dragonflies
The Dragonfly might be one of the more unusual additions to this list, but its huge eyes make it a cute animal worth mentioning. It’s one of the top predators among insects, mainly due to its great vision that covers almost 360 degrees. There are some species of Dragonflies with perfect vision in low light as well.
12. Mantis Shrimp
The Mantis Shrimp has some of the best vision of any animal in the world, so it’s impossible not to include them. Their large eyes and coloring contribute to how cute they are, but they’re one of the more aggressive animals on this list. While human eyes only have three coloring receptors, the Mantis Shrimp has 12. Each eye can move independently of the other, so they could function even after losing one eye.
13. Ogre-Faced Spiders
Another unexpected addition sure to be enjoyed by insect lovers is the Ogre-Faced Spider. While this creature actually has six eyes, they are formed in a way that looks like two large eyes, earning them a spot on this list. Their night vision is one hundred times better than a person’s, making them a dangerous predator in the insect world.
14. Chameleons
There are over 150 Chameleon species spread across Africa and Asia. While they are best known for the ability to change colors to camouflage, they’re also known as a cute species of big-eyed reptiles. Each eye can move 360 degrees, independently of the other. They don’t have the depth perception of other lizards, but can easily spot insects from far away. This combined with their extendable tongues makes them great bug hunters.
15. Zebra Back Spiders
Yet another addition for insect lovers, the Zebra Back Spider actually has 8 eyes. Two large eyes are located at the center of their head, with the remaining six on the side of their head. The position of these eyes allows these bugs to see in 360, with panoramic vision.
Patricia Greene
Patricia is a wildlife enthusiast that loves traveling and learning about wildlife all over North America and the world. Aside from being writer for Wildlife Informer, she’s an avid bird watcher as well as the owner of several pet reptiles. She enjoys visiting national parks and seeing new sights in her free time.
