Cats and Dogs!

Please answer the following questions on a sheet of lined paper and hand them in. (Use the Links Provided Below!)

  1. Name 3 ways that dogs use their senses to 'interpret' their environment differently than humans.

    For example : Some predator birds have “telescopic” eyes that allow them to see by making a faraway distant object appear larger, or owls can see much, much better at night than humans.

  2. What is it about their sensory organs that allows dogs to interpret their environment differently.

    For example : Rabbits have eyes placed on their head in such a way that they can see behind them without moving. (They have 360 degree vision)

  3. Sugguest a reason (for each of your 3 ways listed in #1 above) why the dog has evolved to have sensory organs that enable them to interpret their environment the way that you have discussed in question 1.

    Rabbits have 360 degree vision because they are low on the food chain and have many preditors, it is to their advantage to see preditors 'sneaking' up on them.

  4. Answer questions 1-3 for cats instead of dogs

  5. List three other animals who's sensory organs have adapted to suit one of their specific needs. Make sure that you say what the 'need' was.

    For example : Birds such as the hawk and eagle have the sharpest sight of any animal. These birds have about 1.04 million vision cells in the back of their eyes, which that enables them to see a mouse from as far as one mile away. These birds NEED to have excellent eyesite to spot their small prey on the ground while flying high above.



Dog's Senses

Cat's Senses

  • Amazing Animal Senses - A long list of various animals and their uniques senses.
  • Animals Senses - An article about diverse animal senses.