Why don’t snakes close their eyes?

Introduction: The curious case of open-eyed snakes

When we think of closed eyes, we often think of animals sleeping or resting. Yet, snakes are always seen with their eyes open. This can lead to confusion and misunderstandings about their eye anatomy and behavior. In this article, we will explore the unique characteristics of snake eyes and uncover the reasons why snakes do not close their eyes.

Snakes’ eye anatomy: How it differs from other animals

Snakes have a different eye anatomy compared to other animals. Instead of having a moveable eyelid, snakes have a transparent scale, called the spectacle or brille, that covers and protects their eyes. The spectacle is shed along with their skin during the molting process. Additionally, snakes have a fixed lens that cannot change shape for focusing. Instead, they rely on moving their head or body to adjust their field of vision.