Infrared light, which lies just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum, is invisible to most animals, but many fish can see it.
Salmon, for example, have evolved the ability to switch on infrared vision as the fish migrate upstream from clear oceans to murky freshwater, where the light is shifted towards longer (redder) wavelengths.
A similar adaptation allows bullfrogs to see infrared, helping them to spot aquatic predators.
Vampire bats, mosquitoes and many snakes can also effectively ‘see’ infrared, thanks to specialised, heat-sensitive organs that detect the presence of warm-blooded predators and prey.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Chris Armitage, via email) 'Can any animals see in infared?'
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