Which animal can look two ways at once?

The animal best known for its ability to look two ways at once is the chameleon.

Chameleons have highly specialized eyes that can move independently of each other. Each eye is mounted in a conical, scaly turret that swivels, allowing the chameleon to rotate its eyes nearly 360 degrees horizontally and 180 degrees vertically. This means one eye can look forward while the other looks backward, giving the chameleon a full panoramic view of its surroundings.

This remarkable vision helps chameleons in two major ways:

1. Predator detection: They can keep an eye out for predators while staying still and blending into their environment.
2. Prey targeting: They can scan different areas for prey like insects, then focus both eyes forward when they spot something, enabling precise depth perception for their long, sticky tongue strike.

Their binocular vision when focusing on prey gives them remarkable accuracy, making them skilled hunters despite their slow movements. This dual-function vision is a perfect adaptation for their arboreal and stealthy lifestyle.