Minnesota State Fish: Walleye

Named for their large, glassy eyes, walleyes—like certain other nocturnal animals, such as sharks and cats—have an extra layer of pigment in their pupils called the tapetum lucidum, which bounces light back to their retinas a second time (this is why cat’s eyes seem to glow in the dark). It grants walleyes excellent vision in dark and murky water, making them effective nighttime predators. However, they are sensitive to bright light, which is why they are generally found in the shadows of logs, boulders, and heavy weeds or in deep water on sunny days.