Eye-spot (mimicry)

Moth Automeris io shows startle display on its rear wings. Ocelli are usually covered: the insect jinks the front wings forward when startled.

A serval from behind, with ocelli on the back of its ears. Kits can see their mother as she moves in the long grass

An eye-spot (or ocellus) is an eye-like marking on the body of an animal. They are found on butterflies, reptiles, felids, birds and fish.

Eye-spots may be a form of mimicry: the spot looks like the eye of a larger animal. Its function may be to draw a predator's attention away from the most vulnerable body parts; or to look like an unpleasant or dangerous animal.

In larger animals, eyespots may play a role in intraspecies communication or courtship – the best-known example is probably the eyespots on a peacock's display feathers.

There is evidence that eyespots in butterflies are anti-predator defences. Some are deimatic displays to distract, startle or scare off predators, or at least to deflect attacks away from vital body parts. Butterfly eyespots may also play a role in mate recognition and sexual selection, like the eyespots on larger organisms.

Eye-spot (mimicry) Media

• 

  Many butterflies, such as this gladeye bushbrown (Mycalesis patnia), have eyespots on their wings.

• 

  Polyphemus moth

• 

  Indian peafowl display

• 

  Plan of a typical butterfly, showing the morphogenetic foci on the wings that create eyespots

• 

  Eyespot experiment on cattle in Botswana. Both the eyespots (left) and the cross markings (centre) protected the cattle from predation by lions, compared to the unmarked controls (right).

• 

  Larva of puss moth (Cerura vinula) in a defensive posture, with black eyespots visible just above its head

• 

  Automimicry: gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) has false head at rear

• 

  Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) with rows of eyespots

• 

  Pygmy owl (Glaucidium californicum) with eyespots behind head