Plentiful Peacocks

Most people are familiar with the peacock even if you've only seen photos and not had a chance to meet one up close and personal.  Who could ever see one and not be mesmerized by that gorgeous tail.  As with some birds, the male is the most noticeable.

The female is much more demure. 

The species is actually called the peafowl - peacock specifically refers to the male, and peahen, the female - and is a member of the pheasant family.  There are two Asian species and one from Africa.  The iridescent 'eye' in the male's upper tail feathers are what makes for the spectacular displays of the male and even though the female lacks the upper tail extravaganza, she will also sometimes display to ward off other females or signal danger to her chicks.

But there are a whole slew of other things that are named after the peacock or reminded the people that named them of that flamboyant bird.  Some you can see how they got their name (most also have 'eyes') - others not so much!

There's the Peacock Mantis Shrimp



There are several types of fish named after peacocks.  There are two difference species of Peacock flounder - the Bothus mancus found in the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific...

and the Bothus lunatus seen near coral reefs in the Atlantic and Caribbean waters.

The ocellate river stingray, native to several areas in South America, is a freshwater ray that is also known as the peacock-eye stingray for obvious reasons.

Bornite is an important copper mineral found worldwide, and is also known as peacock copper because of its iridescent tarnish.

There are several butterflies known as peacock butterflies, including several species from the Americas, but it's the European Peacock, also found in Asia, that puts the emphasis on 'eye'.

Then there is the peacock coquette. a species of hummingbird found in South America.  For a short video clip and photos, click here.

There are also several flowers that are referred to as the peacock flower, but the one with the most distinctive 'eye' is the Moreaea villosa native to South Africa.

Perhaps one of the most unusual critters is the peacock worm, a marine worm that lives in a tube of mud or sand stuck together with mucus, and sporting tentacles that resembles peacock feathers.  Well, kind of.

One of the most puzzling things I found is the peacock goat.  No iridescence, no 'eyes', not much resembling a peacock - it's black and white.

A couple of sources say something about a spelling error by a journalist that called it a peacock goat instead of a striped goat.  One heck of a spelling error!!  Guess the error was never corrected because it is STILL known as the peacock goat.

There are a lot of other things (especially more fish) named 'peacock' whatever.  Maybe that will end up being a second post, although the reason I haven't included some of them here is because, like the goat, they fall into the 'not so much' category.  But for now there are already lots of 'peacocks' to go around!