8 Animals With Extra Eyes and the Surprising Reasons Behind Them
Most animals– including us– get by with just two eyes. Two eyes are usually enough to see, move around, find food, and stay safe. But some animals in nature have taken a different path. They’ve evolved extra eyes, sometimes in surprising places, and these extra eyes actually help them survive.
These extra eyes can help them spot predators, sense movement, judge distances, or even see in ways we can’t imagine. From the ocean to the forest, these creatures show how creative nature can be.
Let’s take a look at 8 amazing animals with extra eyes and the cool reasons why they have them.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is drawn from online sources and ecological studies. Some details may vary depending on species and regions.
Spiders
Most spiders have eight eyes, but not all of them see clearly. Jumping spiders use their sharp eyesight to hunt, while web-building spiders mostly rely on touch and vibrations. Each eye has a purpose– some spot movement, others sense light. This helps spiders survive and catch food, even in tricky places.
Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe crabs can have up to ten eyes. Two big ones are on the sides of their shell, and smaller ones sit on top or near their tail. Their eyes help them see in cloudy water, sense changes in light, and even find mates during breeding season. For such ancient creatures, their eyesight is surprisingly useful.
Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish have 24 eyes spread around their body. Some are simple, others more advanced, helping them avoid obstacles and stay oriented in the water. They don’t have a brain—instead, a nerve ring processes what their eyes see. It’s like a built-in navigation system.
Scallops
Scallops have up to 200 tiny eyes along the edges of their shells. They can’t see clearly, but they can sense movement and light to spot predators. If they feel threatened, they can quickly swim away. Their many eyes act like an early warning system.
Starfish
Starfish might look like they have no eyes, but each arm tip has a tiny light-sensitive spot. These spots help them sense light and shadow as they move along the ocean floor. The more arms a starfish has, the more “eyes” it gets, giving it a better sense of its surroundings.
Mantis Shrimp
Mantis shrimp seem to have just two eyes, but each eye is split into multiple parts. This gives them super complex vision. They can judge depth with each eye and even see colors humans can’t imagine. Their eyesight helps them hunt with amazing accuracy.
Jumping Spider Beetles
These tiny beetles have several small eyes on their head and bodies. This almost gives them 360-degree vision, helping them spot predators and find food. Their eyes let them move safely through tricky environments.
Tail-Sitter Flies
Tail-sitter flies have eyes on both their head and thorax, giving them a wide view all around. This helps them see predators coming from any direction and react quickly. Their unique eyes make them very alert and hard to sneak up on.
Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)
These extra eyes can help them spot predators, sense movement, judge distances, or even see in ways we can’t imagine. From the ocean to the forest, these creatures show how creative nature can be.
Let’s take a look at 8 amazing animals with extra eyes and the cool reasons why they have them.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is drawn from online sources and ecological studies. Some details may vary depending on species and regions.
Spiders
Most spiders have eight eyes, but not all of them see clearly. Jumping spiders use their sharp eyesight to hunt, while web-building spiders mostly rely on touch and vibrations. Each eye has a purpose– some spot movement, others sense light. This helps spiders survive and catch food, even in tricky places.
Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe crabs can have up to ten eyes. Two big ones are on the sides of their shell, and smaller ones sit on top or near their tail. Their eyes help them see in cloudy water, sense changes in light, and even find mates during breeding season. For such ancient creatures, their eyesight is surprisingly useful.
Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish have 24 eyes spread around their body. Some are simple, others more advanced, helping them avoid obstacles and stay oriented in the water. They don’t have a brain—instead, a nerve ring processes what their eyes see. It’s like a built-in navigation system.
Scallops
Scallops have up to 200 tiny eyes along the edges of their shells. They can’t see clearly, but they can sense movement and light to spot predators. If they feel threatened, they can quickly swim away. Their many eyes act like an early warning system.
Starfish
Starfish might look like they have no eyes, but each arm tip has a tiny light-sensitive spot. These spots help them sense light and shadow as they move along the ocean floor. The more arms a starfish has, the more “eyes” it gets, giving it a better sense of its surroundings.
Mantis Shrimp
Mantis shrimp seem to have just two eyes, but each eye is split into multiple parts. This gives them super complex vision. They can judge depth with each eye and even see colors humans can’t imagine. Their eyesight helps them hunt with amazing accuracy.
Jumping Spider Beetles
These tiny beetles have several small eyes on their head and bodies. This almost gives them 360-degree vision, helping them spot predators and find food. Their eyes let them move safely through tricky environments.
Tail-Sitter Flies
Tail-sitter flies have eyes on both their head and thorax, giving them a wide view all around. This helps them see predators coming from any direction and react quickly. Their unique eyes make them very alert and hard to sneak up on.
Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)
Next Story