Which land animal has the largest eyes?
Quick answer
The ostrich has the largest eyes of any land animal. Each eye is about 5 cm (2 inches) across, roughly the size of a billiard ball, and bigger than its brain. In the ocean, the colossal squid holds the record for the largest eyes of any animal, at about 27 cm.
Biggest eyes in the animal kingdom
| Animal | Eye diameter (approx.) | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| Colossal squid | ~27 cm | Deep Southern Ocean |
| Giant squid | ~25 cm | Deep oceans |
| Blue whale | ~15 cm | Oceans |
| Ostrich | ~5 cm | Africa (land) |
| Horse | ~4–5 cm | Land |
| Human | ~2.4 cm | Land |
Squid living in the dark deep sea need huge eyes to catch faint light and spot predators such as sperm whales.
Why ostriches need big eyes
Ostriches live on open savannas and deserts in Africa, where danger can come from far away. Large eyes let them:
- Spot predators like lions and cheetahs up to several kilometers away
- See well in bright sunlight, with long eyelashes to shield against sun and dust
- Keep watch while grazing, since they can’t fly away
Ostrich records
- Largest living bird, up to about 2.7 m tall and 150 kg
- Fastest bird on land, running at about 70 km/h
- Lays the largest eggs of any living bird, weighing about 1.4 kg
- A kick strong enough to injure a lion
Myth: ostriches bury their heads
Ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand to hide. The myth may come from them lowering their heads to turn their eggs in ground nests or to graze, which from a distance can look like their heads are underground.
For the fastest flying bird, see the peregrine falcon. Eyes control light with the iris; see which part of the eye controls light.
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