As social creatures, rabbits are happiest in the company of their species.
The best combination is a neutered male and a neutered female.
They can become extremely sad and depressed if kept on their own.
They are known for their long ears and adorable twitchy noses, but have you ever wondered about their eyesight?
The eyes are placed high and to the sides of the skull, allowing the rabbit to see nearly 360 degrees, as well as far above her head1, while in the human, this angle is about 180 degrees2.
Rabbits3, tend to be farsighted, which explains why they may be frightened by an airplane flying overhead even if their human companion can barely see it.
| Advantages of Rabbit Vision | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Nearly 360-degree field of vision allows them to detect predators and potential threats from almost any direction | Blind spot directly in front of their nose and directly behind their head may make it difficult for them to see food or other objects that are close by |
| The high number of rods in their eyes makes them particularly adept at seeing in low-light conditions and at spotting sudden movements | The low number of cones in their eyes means that they have poor color vision and may not be able to see fine details |
| A unique visual system allows them to use both monocular and binocular vision at the same time, giving them a wider field of view and better depth perception | Visual acuity is not as sharp as humans or some other animals, which may make it difficult for them to see distant objects clearly |
Not ideal – Unique view takes a blind spot
If you’ve ever had a pet rabbit, you might have noticed that they can have a difficult time seeing things that are right in front of their face.
This phenomenon can’t help but make you wonder if they can see well.
Their field of vision allows them to detect predators and other potential threats from almost any direction.
However, this wide field of vision does come with some trade-offs.
They have a blind spot directly in front of their nose and directly behind their head, which means they may not always see food or other objects that are close by.
In terms of visual acuity, rabbits are not as sharp-eyed as humans or some other animals.
They have a relatively low number of cones in their eyes, which are the cells responsible for color vision and detail.
This means that rabbits are likely to see the world in a more muted, pastel-like color palette than we do.
Did you know that rabbits have many natural predators, including foxes, coyotes, bobcats, weasels, hawks, owls, and snakes?
Bunny Color Vision
Eyes have photoreceptors in the retina called cones and rods.
Cones are more active when there is more light and provide spatial acuity and color vision, while rods are more functional when there is less light and provide night vision.
Compared to humans, rabbits have more rods than cones in their retinas.
This means rabbits can see better than we can in the dark4 but are limited to two-color vision.
For example, they can distinguish between green and blue but cannot see red. Rabbits aren’t the only animals that have trouble distinguishing colors. Though not fully colorblind, cats and dogs can also have trouble differentiating between certain colors.
Another interesting aspect of rabbit vision is their ability to see in two different ways simultaneously.
Rabbits have a unique visual system that allows them to use both monocular and binocular vision at the same time.
Monocular vision is when each eye works independently, giving the rabbit a wider field of view. Binocular vision is when both eyes work together to focus on a single point, giving the rabbit better depth perception.
This allows rabbits to quickly switch between scanning their surroundings for predators and focusing on a specific object or threat.
It’s also worth noting that rabbits have a third eyelid, known as the nictitating membrane, which helps protect their eyes from injury and debris.
This membrane can be seen as a thin, white, or translucent film that moves across the eye from the inner corner to the outer corner.
Rabbits have a unique way of communicating with each other about predators. When a rabbit senses danger, it will thump its hind legs on the ground to alert other rabbits in the area. This behavior is known as “thumping” or “drumming.”
FAQ
Do rabbits have a good eyesight?
Rabbits tend to be farsighted, which means they can see long distances well. However, their vision for items nearby isn’t always so great.
What does a rabbit’s vision look like?
Compared to humans, rabbits have more rods than cones in their retinas. This means rabbits can see better than we can in the dark but are limited to two-color vision.
How do rabbits see humans?
Some bad owners adjust their lightning to accommodate their bands. And see a change in their behavior. They are often more playful.
Can rabbits fight off predators?
Sometimes they will try to fight off a predator by biting and kicking with their powerful back legs.
How far can a bunny see?
They are relatively far-sighted, and have a blind spot directly in front of the face because their eyes are on the sides of the head, not on the front, like ours. Thus, they can see almost 360o, which is great for spotting danger from every direction.
Why do my rabbit’s eyes pop out?
In most cases, it is caused by a tooth root abscess as many of the upper tooth roots sit right next to the inside of the eye.
Why do rabbits’ eyes turn white?
These include diet, genetics, infection, or even trauma to the eye.
In conclusion, while rabbits may not have the sharpest visual acuity, their wide field of vision, ability to see in low light, and unique visual system make them well-adapted to their environment.
References
1. Dana M. Krempels, Ph.D. What Do Rabbits See? (https://web.as.miami.edu/hare/vision.html#:~:text=The%20eyes%20are%20placed%20high,companion%20can%20barely%20see%20it.)
2. Mike Chapman, Wisconsin House Rabbit Society. What Do Rabbits See?(https://cdn.ymaws.com/petsitters.org/resource/resmgr/virtual_library_/virtual_library_2/what_do_rabbits_see.pdf)
3. Aleksandra Kontic. Can Rabbits Eat Cabbage? A Bunny Diet Investigation. 2023. (https://animalvivid.com/can-rabbits-eat-cabbage-a-bunny-diet-investigation/)
4. Do Rabbits Have Good Eyesight? (https://www.eyeque.com/knowledge-center/do-rabbits-have-good-eyesight/)
