Meditated Misdirection

A lot of animals have false eyespots in order to misdirect predators.  Many predators go for the eye and/or head and having a marking on your body that looks like an eye, but isn't, could save your life.  Eyespots direct the predator toward a less vulnerable part of the body.  At least this has been the theory.  However, some scientists say that these markings are more likely to startle predators, not because they look like eyes, but because they are just that - startling and highly conspicuous.  Critters with false eyespots include fish...

Foureye butterflyfish  Source:  Wikipedia

 

Oriental flying gurnard   Source:  Wikipedia

butterflies, moths, and their larvae (caterpillars)...

 

Peacock butterfly   Source:  Wikipedia

 

Gladeye Bushbrown   Source:  Wikipedia

Spicebush Swallowtail   Source:  Wikipedia 

(That's its rear end by the way, not its actual head.)

Tersa Sphinx moth   Source: Wikipedia

and other bugs.

Spiny flower mantis   Source:  Wikipedia

Eyed Click Beetle   Source: Wikipedia

And birds?  We have the peacock butterfly.  What about its namesake?

Whatever the reason for these markings they certainly make these critters interesting and beautiful.  Having eyespots is a type of mimicry.  For more on that, click here.