Arctic reindeer "have ultraviolet" vision

 wild reindeer foraging for food on the islands of the Arctic Svalbard Arctic reindeer can see beyond the light "visible" spectrum in the region in the ultraviolet, according to new research by an international team.

They say on Rennes, tests showed that the animal responds to stimuli UV, unlike humans.

The ability could allow them to choose food and predators in the Arctic "UV rich" atmosphere and retain visibility in low light.

Details are published in The Journal of experimental biology.

See predator

UV light is invisible to humans. It has a wavelength that is shorter (and more-powered) as "visible light", ranging from 400 nanometers to 10nm wavelength.

First, the researchers have established that UV light could pass through the lens and the cornea of the eye of reindeer pulling a dissected sample light. Tests showed that the light at a wavelength of waters in the eye.

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human beings humans and other mammals are actually a minority with not sensitivity to UV radiation "

end quote Professor Lars Chittka Queen Mary University London they sought to prove that animals could"see"the light"by testing the electrical response of the retina of Rennes anesthetized to UV light.

"We used what we call an ERG (electroretinography), by which we record the electrical response on the retina by putting a small piece of gold within the eyelid leaf," co-author Professor Glen Jeffery of the University College London told BBC News.

Tests showed that the photoreceptor cells or "cones" in the retina did to UV rays.

"If you're a Bumblebee, don't you think a large part of what this animal because it is to see to what is called 'near UV' (about 320 to limit), but it is always very high energy stuff".

UV vision can allow Rennes for "see" their traditional predator, the Wolf

Researchers believe that UV vision could allow the reindeer to distinguish food and predators in the "white-out" of the Arctic winter and spring and autumn twilight.

Lichen, which the animal feeds, appear black in the eyes of reindeer, they say, because it absorbs UV light. Traditional animal predator, wolves, seems to be also more dark against the snow, as their fur absorbs UV light.

Urine in the snow would be also more noticeable in UV vision, which could alert the reindeer to the scent of predators or other reindeer.

Nor has the animal appear to suffer damage as a result of see in the UV, say researchers or suffer from the "snow blindness" humans may suffer in the UV-rich Arctic environment.

Polar vision

Professor Lars Chittka Queen Mary University of London, who explored features UV of bees, said the study showed that we call "visible" spectrum did not apply to most of the animal Kingdom.

"This is further evidence that sensitivity to UV through animals is the rule not the exception, and that human beings humans and other mammals are actually a minority with not sensitivity to UV radiation.He said.

Professor Chittka was not surprised that UV light seemed to do no damage to the retina of Rennes. He said that the tests suggest that the eye would admit only UV light low frequency ("UV light - A") rather than the more damaging of higher frequency light ("UV - B").

Testing behaviors and modeling more would be also necessary to check that the apparent ability of Rennes for detecting UV rays really takes place at the "better detection of predators and Arctic lichens", he said.

The same research team that conducted the tests of Rennes will soon be repeating the same experiences of seals to see if you can see in the UV region. Professor Jeffery believes that many animals of the Arctic is likely to have the ability.

"There is no evidence that Arctic foxes and polar bears are suffering from snow blindness, so I bet you that most of the animals in the Arctic until he saw in UV.".