1. relating to or characteristic of the tapetum, a reflective layer in the eyes of many animals
Usage: biological; anatomical

Examples

• The tapetal reflection gives nocturnal animals their characteristic eyeshine.
• Researchers studied the tapetal cells in cat retinas.
• The tapetal layer helps improve night vision in many mammals.
• Tapetal pigments vary among different animal species.
• The veterinarian examined the tapetal fundus during the eye exam.