Rats have excellent vision in the blue and green parts of the color spectrum. They are able to distinguish between different shades of blue and green and perceive them as distinct colors. This is because rats have color receptors that are most sensitive to these wavelengths of light.
If you have a red or orange object in your rat’s environment, your rats may not be able to distinguish it from its surroundings. Understanding what colors rats can see has significant practical implications for rat care and training. Rats have dichromatic vision, meaning they can perceive a limited range of colors compared to humans.
Rats are most sensitive to colors in the blue and green spectrum, while reds and oranges appear less vibrant to them. This knowledge can be utilized in training, as certain colors may be more visually stimulating for them. When using color-coded cues or objects in rat training, it is important to consider their perception of color. Using colors that are more easily distinguishable to rats can enhance their ability to associate specific tasks or behaviors with certain visual cues.
Light passes through a rat’s cornea and pupil, just like in humans. However, rat lenses allow more light to pass through – almost all visible light and 50% of UVA light. This gives rats the ability to see ultraviolet light, which humans cannot perceive. Rats can visibly see urine markings with this perception of UV light. This ability to detect urine traces enables rats to identify active and abandoned pathways. This increases their chances of successful foraging.
It’s important to note that while rats may have limited color vision, they still have excellent visual acuity and can see well in low light conditions. Their vision is primarily adapted for detecting motion and navigating their environment rather than perceiving colors.