Here's Why Goat Eyes Look Weird

Taking a closer look at a goat’s eyeball, you might notice that their pupils are elongated from side-to-side rather than round like a human’s; but why? A good question indeed.

Some scientists believe the elongated pupils provide the goats with improved vision under specific circumstances. The side-to-side elongated pupils offer two significant advantages to round pupils: better field of view and reduced sensitivity to solar glare. These characteristics make goats more effective at evading predators.

Another characteristic of goat eyeballs is that they can rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise, which is particularly useful when the animals are feeding. As they look down at the ground, the elongated pupils maintain the ideal position to scan the land around the animal for threats.