<P> The tapetum lucidum / təˈpiːtəm / (Latin: "bright tapestry; coverlet", plural tapeta lucida) is a layer of tissue in the eye of many vertebrates . Lying immediately behind the retina, it is a retroreflector . It reflects visible light back through the retina, increasing the light available to the photoreceptors (although slightly blurring the image). The tapetum lucidum contributes to the superior night vision of some animals . Many of these animals are nocturnal, especially carnivores, while others are deep sea animals . </P> <P> Similar adaptations occur in some species of spiders . Most primates, including humans, lack a tapetum lucidum, and compensate for this by perceptive recognition methods . </P>

What is the function of the tapetum lucidum in animals