
Whether you’re creeped out by or love goats’ rectangular pupils, you probably didn’t know this about them.
An illustrator and self-proclaimed goat lover, @s1120411 posts on his Twitter anything and everything yagi. From little comic strips of his original characters Little Goat and Wolf Boy (Yagi-chan and Ookami-kun), to adorable photos of goats, goats, and more goats. Like we said, EVERYTHING goat.
One drawing in particular that he recently posted, illustrating a little-known fact about goats’ eyes and their (in)famous rectangular-shaped pupils, caught the attention of many.
ヤギの目はいつでも「横向き」ではないのです。草を食べたり頭突きをするとき下を向くと「縦向き」になります!つまり「地面に対して常に横向き」なのです。 pic.twitter.com/gX8uqn1E9u
— Yagi the Goat (@s1120411) February 3, 2016
“Goats’ eyes aren’t always horizontal,” @s1120411 explains. “When they’re eating grass, butting heads, or generally just facing downwards, their eyes become vertical! In other words, their pupils are always horizontally parallel to the ground.”
It’s a simple little factoid, but one that not many people know unless they work closely with goats, which spurred amazed netizens to retweet the post over 12,000 times and curious commentors to wonder more about those mysterious oculars.
“I wonder if they were to roll forward, would their eye roll completely around too and twist their optical nerve? lol”
“I wonder what would happen if a goat went into space.”
“It seems their eyes do this to give them a broad view while grazing to help them keep a look out for predators.”
“Really? I wonder if cows are the same… Learned something new!”
(to above) “Cows, horses, and sheep too! It helps them from being attacked by carnivores.”
“Wow!! I always found their eyes kind of scary, but that’s amazing!”
If you, like the commenter above, found goats’ eyes to look a bit unsettling before, hopefully now you can understand and appreciate those rectangular pupils a little better now. As for the rest of us, we are now all the more wise about our four-legged friends!
Source: Twitter/ @s1210411
Top image: Backyard Herds via Reddit, Twitter/ @s1210411 (edited by RocketNews24)

When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Japanese convenience store sandwiches get extra protection from new business backpack
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Hyogo boy singing “I hate baldies” assaulted by 55-year-old man with pro-wrestling move
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Japanese convenience store sandwiches get extra protection from new business backpack
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Hyogo boy singing “I hate baldies” assaulted by 55-year-old man with pro-wrestling move
Akiba Dental Clinic: The Akihabara dentist where a moe maid in cosplay cleans your teeth
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
Robot noodle chef starts working in Tokyo train station, serves up taste of the future【Video】
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Japan’s first-ever ramen restaurant, which closed 44 years ago, is reopening this fall!
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
Police in Japan find dismembered body of father in attic of son’s condominium