<P> The term binocular comes from two Latin roots, bini for double, and oculus for eye . </P> <P> Some animals, usually, but not always, prey animals, have their two eyes positioned on opposite sides of their heads to give the widest possible field of view . Examples include rabbits, buffaloes, and antelopes . In such animals, the eyes often move independently to increase the field of view . Even without moving their eyes, some birds have a 360 - degree field of view . </P> <P> Some other animals, usually, but not always, predatory animals, have their two eyes positioned on the front of their heads, thereby allowing for binocular vision and reducing their field of view in favor of stereopsis . However, eyes on the front is a highly evolved trait in vertebrates, and there are only three extant groups of vertebrates with truly forward - facing eyes: primates, carnivorous mammals, and birds of prey . </P> <P> Some predator animals, particularly large ones such as sperm whales and killer whales, have their two eyes positioned on opposite sides of their heads, although it is possible they have some binocular visual field . Other animals that are not necessarily predators, such as fruit bats and a number of primates also have forward - facing eyes . These are usually animals that need fine depth discrimination / perception; for instance, binocular vision improves the ability to pick a chosen fruit or to find and grasp a particular branch . </P>

What animals have eyes on the front of their head