Archive · 14 Aug 2025
Ungulates Fall for Optical Illusions Similar to Humans
Scientists tested if animals like sheep and goats see illusions like humans.
They used food and classic illusions, such as lines with arrowheads and circles within circles.
The animals chose food based on how the illusions made things look, like thinking a carrot was longer than it was or a treat bigger than it was.
This means animals might see the world similarly to us, and understanding this could help make their living spaces better and help us understand them better.
Study shows sheep, goats, llamas, and guanacos are susceptible to optical illusions.
Researchers used the Müller-Lyer and Delboeuf illusions in food-based tests.
Animals chose food options based on perceived size influenced by the illusions.
Findings suggest ungulate vision shares neural mechanics with humans.
The research may improve animal environment design and empathy.
- Who
- Alina Schaffer and her team at the University of Leipzig conducted the study.
- What
- Study revealed that ungulates like sheep and goats are susceptible to optical illusions.
- When
- The study was recently published.
- Where
- The research was conducted at the University of Leipzig in Germany.
- Why
- To understand if animals perceive visual information similarly to humans and improve animal welfare.
- Lead Researcher
- Alina Schaffer
- University
- University of Leipzig, Germany
- Animals Tested
- Guanacos, Llamas, Skudde Sheep, Damara Goats
- Illusion 1
- Müller-Lyer (lines with arrowheads)
- Illusion 2
- Delboeuf (circles within circles)