In butterflies and moths '' The eye-like markings in some
butterflies and moths and certain other insects, as well as birds like the
sunbittern, serve functions in addition to
mimicry; indeed, it is unclear whether they actually mimic eyes. There is evidence that eyespots in butterflies are
antipredator adaptations, either in
deimatic displays to intimidate predators, or to deflect attacks away from vital body parts. In species such as
Hipparchia semele, the conspicuous eyespots are hidden at rest to decrease detectability, and only exposed when they believe potential predators are nearby. Butterfly eyespots can mimic dead leaves for
camouflage from predators, as seen in
Bicyclus anynana; this is a response to a seasonal fall in temperature, causing a shift in selection towards smaller, less conspicuous eyespots among those individuals developing at that time. Butterfly eyespots may play a role in mate recognition and
sexual selection. Sexual selection drives the diversification of eyespots in different species of butterflies, as mates select for characteristics like size and brightness. Some species of
caterpillar, such as those of hawkmoths (
Sphingidae), have eyespots on their anterior abdominal segments. When alarmed, they retract the head and the thoracic segments into the body, leaving the apparently threatening large eyes at the front of the visible part of the body.
In reptiles and mammals Some reptiles, such as the
sand lizard of Europe, have eyespots; in the sand lizard's case, there is a row of spots along the back, and a row on each side. Many species of
cat, including
Geoffroy's cats,
jungle cats,
pampas cats, and
servals, have white markings, whether spots or bars, on the backs of their ears; it is possible that these signal "follow me" to the young of the species. There may be an
evolutionary trade-off in this case between nocturnal camouflage and intraspecific signalling.
In birds display Male birds of some species, such as the
peacock, have conspicuous eyespots in their plumage, used to signal their quality to
sexually selecting females. The number of eyespots in a peacock's train predicts his mating success; when a peacock's train is experimentally pruned, females lose interest. Several species of
pygmy owl bear false eyes on the back of the head, misleading predators into reacting as though they were the subject of an aggressive stare.
In fish Some fish have eyespots. The
foureye butterflyfish gets its name from a large and conspicuous eyespot on each side of the body near the tail. A black vertical bar on the head runs through the true eye, making it hard to see. This may deceive
predators in two ways: into attacking the tail rather than the more vulnerable head, and about the fish's likely direction of travel. The foureye butterflyfish eyespot is thus an example of
self-mimicry. For the same reason, many juvenile fish display eyespots that disappear during their adult phase. Some species of fish, like the
spotted mandarin fish and
spotted ray, maintain their eyespots throughout their adult lives. These eyespots can take a form very similar to those seen in most butterflies, with a focus surrounded by concentric rings of other pigmentation. Deilephila elpenor 11.JPG|Larva of
elephant hawkmoth (
Deilephila elpenor) displaying eyespots when alarmed File:Notodontidae - Cerura vinula.jpg|Larva of
puss moth (
Cerura vinula) in a defensive posture, with black eyespots visible just above its head File:Gray Hairstreak (One more time...) (6222138633).jpg|
Automimicry:
gray hairstreak (
Strymon melinus) has false head at rear File:Zauneidechse 1469 (detail).jpg|
Sand lizard (
Lacerta agilis) with rows of eyespots File:Glaucidium californicum Verdi Sierra Pines 2 (detail).jpg|
Pygmy owl (
Glaucidium californicum) with eyespots behind head File:Serval from back.jpg|
Serval (
Leptailurus serval) from back, ocelli clearly visible on the ears File:Chaetodon capistratus 14zz.jpg|
Foureye butterflyfish (
Chaetodon capistratus) has false eyes near tail and
disruptive eye mask concealing eye ==Morphogenesis==