In the eye of the dragonfly

Each of their compound eyes is comprised of around 30.000 facets.

Color vision in humans depends upon three light-sensitive proteins, called opsins, that are present in our retinas. The many wavelengths of light reflected into our eyes from the surfaces of objects around us mix together to provide a rich palette of color. Yet, despite our visual color range, there is a creature with even greater scope; the dragonfly.

All dragonfly species have excellent vision. Each compound eye is comprised of around 30.000 elements known as facets. These facets contain light sensitive opsin proteins, thereby functioning as the visual sensing element in the compound eye. But unlike humans, day-flying dragonfly species have four or five different opsins, allowing them to see colors that are beyond human visual capabilities, such as ultraviolet (UV) light.