Which kind of animal has the most broad vision?

Answer 1

Many animals have vision tuned specifically to their requirements. Cats see very well in the dark thanks both to the ability to grossly dilate the pupil, and the presence of a reflective layer (the tapetum lucidum) that enhances their light sensitivity- while other animals share some of this functionality, cats specialise in it. It is this layer which causes cats eyes to seemingly glow in the dark, and road-marking `cats eyes` work by dint of emulating this design.

Many prey animals have their eyes far apart; in fact, on either side of their head! Being so delicious to carnivores, having the ability seeing predators coming is obviously very important- running fast is a good defence, but it can never hurt to get a head start. It is harder to sneak up on your prey when they have wraparound vision.

Birds are able to see into the ultraviolet spectrum- it is likely that they are able to perceive vivid patterns and colours in the plumage of other birds that we mere humans cannot. What birds of prey specialise in is distance vision. They are able to scan for prey from hundreds of feet above the ground, spotting something as small as a mouse and tracking it during fast descent. With many times the number of receptive cells lining the retina, bird vision could be considered high-definition in comparison to ours.

Mantis shrimp are an excellent contender for animal with the best vision altogether- it actually came as quite a surprise when it was discovered that their eyes are the most complex on the planet. They are able to see not only visible light, but infrared and ultraviolet. They are the only invertebrate known to be capable of visually recognising members of their own species. While humans normally possess four different types of photoreceptors (conventionally seeing the three primaries- red, green, and blue), mantis shrimp possess up to sixteen different types (seeing possibly a dozen primary colours); four for the `visible light` range, four for ultraviolet (with filters that allow them to tune receptors individually to changing light conditions) and four for polarised light.

Yes, Mantis shrimp have polarized filters! Unlike the simple linear polarisation sensitivity of some birds and insects, they utilise `optimal polarisation`- a complete combination of linear (four types) and circular (two types) polarisation. While humans have only recently produced technology capable of perceiving circular polarisation, Mantis shrimp are the only animals known to possess photoreceptor cells capable of such a feat, and they do it with greater consistency than human technology. Some Mantis shrimp produce signals detectable only with a polarized filter.

Mantis shrimp are also able to see in stereo with each eye individually, which means that if they lose one eye, they can still see just as well, with a single eye providing depth perception normally only achieved with two. To top it off, their eyes can be moved independently of each other through a great range of motion.

Answer 2

Mostly Cats and Eagles but fish are good too.