A penguin with glasses? These 5 animals have perfect vision

Animals - like people - sometimes have problems with their eyesight, are long-sighted or short-sighted. They rarely wear proper glasses, but some animals, despite having excellent eyesight, look as if they have glasses on their noses. Or on their backs. And they even have the same name: Do you already know the African penguin and the spectacled owl? No? Then read on.

The shy spectacled bear

Scientific name: Tremarctos ornatus
Length: 130 - 190 centimeters
Weight: Males weigh 100 - 175 kilograms, females 60 - 80 kilograms
Hobbies: Eating fruit, being alone, enjoying the peace and quiet

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Spectacled bears don't wear proper glasses, but their facial fur looks like they do. The fluffy spectacled bear glasses models vary greatly - some wear giant ski goggles, others look like they're related to Harry Potter.

The spectacled bear is actually the only bear in South America and is one of the strongest predators there - that's why the other animals usually leave it to nibble on its fruit in peace. And the spectacled bear loves peace and quiet, it doesn't like being in company. Because the animals are so shy, you have to be very lucky if you want to see one in the wild.

In addition, they have less and less living space available because humans are displacing them with fields and villages. Unfortunately, there are not many spectacled bears left, which makes it all the more important that our bespectacled friend is protected.

The cheeky Spectacled Penguin

Scientific name: Spheniscus demersus
Length: 60 - 70 centimeters
Weight: 2.5 - 3 kilograms
Enemies: sea lions, seagulls, humans

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African penguins are the only penguins in Africa still living in the wild. They live on the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. Unlike most other penguin species, they love the warmth of the sun and enjoy being on the beach.

Penguins can't fly with their wings, but they can swim and dive even better. In the water, they hunt together as a group for tasty fish and crustaceans such as crabs. To do this, they swim about 50 kilometers every day. Crazy, right?

The African penguin has a pair of chic pink glasses on its cute nose. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer animals, and climate change and environmental pollution are particularly affecting them. The number of African penguins has unfortunately declined by 90% in the last 100 years.

The Eye-Strong Spectacled Owl

Length: 43 - 46 centimeters
Weight: 600 grams to 1 kilogram
Favorite food: birds, frogs, crabs, spiders, small mammals

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The spectacled owl is a large, contrastingly colored species of owl with smart white glasses. The spectacled owl can see very well, and its spatial vision is particularly strong. In order to keep everything in view, it can turn its head 270°, almost completely around its own axis. Wow!

The calls of the spectacled owl sound something like “pok-pok-bogbogbogbobobo”. At night, the bird of prey hunts for small animals, birds or insects, which it spots from its tree and picks up in flight from the ground.

The habitat of the spectacled owl extends from southern Mexico through Central America and large parts of northern South America to northern Argentina. Fortunately, the spectacled owl population is stable, so the animals are not considered endangered. Yay!

The long-winded spectacled caiman

Scientific name: Caiman yacare
Length: 2 meters
Weight: 60 kilograms
Hobbies: swimming, diving, sunbathing

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The spectacled caiman has lived on earth for 80 million years, belongs to the alligator family and can dive in water for over an hour without taking a breath. Wow! It looks a bit like it's wearing little horn-rimmed glasses, doesn't it?

The spectacled caiman lives in the freshwater of rivers and other bodies of water in South America and Central America and rarely goes on land to sunbathe. Most of the time it lies still in the water and waits for prey. Only its eyes and snout peek out of the water - so it is hardly visible. When diving it can extend a transparent eyelid called the "nictitating membrane" for protection.

In the past, spectacled caimans were often hunted for their skin, but now there are many of them again. Fortunately, the species is no longer endangered.

The only true spectacled snake

Scientific name: Naja naja
Length: up to 170 centimeters
Weight: 60 kilograms
Superpower: can even kill an elephant with its poisonous bite

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The spectacled cobra is also called a cobra. It is a poisonous snake whose bite can be fatal to humans and other animals. So it is better not to get too close. Here in Europe you are safe, but in Central and Southeast Asia and China people have to be careful.

The spectacled snake got its name because it has clearly visible black and white glasses on the back of its neck. Pretty, isn't it? The snake can see well, but is deaf and can't hear anything.

The cobra is considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhist monks and is protected worldwide; hunting is prohibited. Nevertheless, there are fewer and fewer of these animals and the spectacled cobra is an endangered species.

And the next time someone calls you a “spectacled snake,” you can now tell them some exciting facts about this amazing animal.