What type of vision would be ideal for detecting motion in darkness?

Scotopic vision is the type of vision that operates in low-light conditions and is primarily mediated by rod cells in the retina. Rods are highly sensitive to light but do not detect color, which makes them particularly effective in dim environments. This sensitivity enables the detection of motion and shapes in darkness, making scotopic vision ideal for identifying movements when lighting is minimal.

Photopic vision, in contrast, is the vision that functions in bright light and relies on cone cells, which are responsible for color detection and fine detail. While photopic vision is excellent for recognizing colors and sharp images, it is not effective in low-light situations.

Mesopic vision falls between photopic and scotopic vision, occurring in intermediate lighting conditions. While mesopic vision allows some detection of motion, it does not match the sensitivity of scotopic vision in very low light.

Color vision, which is primarily associated with photopic vision, focuses on color differentiation rather than motion detection in darkness. In dark conditions, the ability to perceive color diminishes, further underscoring why scotopic vision is the most suitable choice for detecting motion in low-light scenarios.