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A shark's eye has a tapetum that acts to reflect and intensify light, like a cat's eye. True or False?

User Codieroot
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Final answer:

True, sharks have a reflective layer in their eyes known as the tapetum lucidum, which enhances their night vision, similarly to how a cat's eye operates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that a shark's eye has a tapetum that acts to reflect and intensify light, similar to a cat's eye, is True. This reflective layer behind the retina, known as the tapetum lucidum, helps sharks to see better in murky waters or during low light conditions such as nighttime. The tapetum lucidum reflects light that passes through the retina back into the eye, effectively giving the photoreceptor cells of the retina another chance to absorb the light. This adaptation enhances visual sensitivity, which is crucial for predators like the sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) to locate prey in the depths of the oceans or at night. Alongside the tapetum, sharks have well-developed sense organs like the ampullae of Lorenzini for electroreception and a lateral line system for detecting vibrations, further aiding them in their role as effective hunters.

User Keith Barrows
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