In the animal kingdom, you’ll encounter the most bizarre traits — and that certainly applies to eyes. Some animals have eyes in places you’d never expect. Here are 12 animals with the strangest eye positions.
1. Starfish – eyes at the tips of their arms
Starfish don’t have a visible face, but they can still “see.” At the end of each of their arms is a small, primitive eye that can detect light and dark. Although they can’t see clearly, this helps them navigate and avoid getting stuck on obstacles.
2. Brittle stars – eyes all over their body
Brittle stars, distant cousins of starfish, have an even stranger system. Their entire body is covered with light-sensitive cells. In fact, the brittle star “sees” with its skin, which helps detect predators and shady hiding spots.
3. Scallops – eyes on top of the shell
The scallop is not only beautiful, but it also has around 200 tiny eyes located along the edge of its shell. These eyes look like tiny shimmering beads and can detect movement and light, so the shell can snap shut in time when danger approaches.
4. Flatworms – eyes on a flat body
Flatworms have two simple eyes located on their flat, broad body. These eyespots can only detect light and dark, but are positioned to help them avoid obstacles during their search for food.
5. Hammerhead shark – eyes on the sides of the hammer
The hammerhead shark has one of the strangest heads in the animal world: its eyes are positioned at the ends of its wide, hammer-like head. This gives the shark an extra-wide field of vision, helping it locate prey from a distance and navigate more precisely.
6. Flying fish – eyes above the water
The flying fish has specially adapted eyes that point slightly upward. This helps it keep an eye on predators and obstacles during its spectacular leaps above the water, allowing it to glide safely through the air.
7. Jumping spider – eight eyes for perfect vision
The jumping spider (Salticidae) may have the most impressive eyes of any spider. These tiny hunters have eight eyes, with two large front eyes that are especially striking. They allow the spider to perceive depth perfectly, helping it pounce on prey with extreme precision. The other eyes, spread across the head, give the spider nearly 360-degree vision. As if that weren’t enough, some species can even see ultraviolet light. This makes the jumping spider a master hunter without a web – it sees its prey from afar and then leaps in for the catch.
8. Crustaceans – eyes on long stalks
Shrimp and their relatives, like the hermit crab, have eyes on long stalks. This allows them to move their eyes independently and gain a wide field of vision without moving their body. Perfect for keeping an eye on both predators and prey!
9. Mantis shrimp – complex eyes on stalks
The peacock mantis shrimp has incredibly complex eyes. They are mounted on stalks and can move independently. What’s truly remarkable is that they have 12 to 16 color receptors (compared to 3 in humans), allowing them to see ultraviolet and even polarized light.
10. Pistol shrimp – eyes above the claws
The pistol shrimp has its eyes positioned at the top of its head, just above its massive snapping claw. This positioning lets it spot and shoot simultaneously while remaining hidden in its burrow.
11. Macropinna microstoma – eyes inside a transparent head
The barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) has a transparent head, through which you can see its eyes inside. These eyes point upward to spot prey above but can also rotate forward when focusing on something specific. It’s like having a built-in pair of binoculars!
12. Mudskipper – eyes on top of the head
The mudskipper is a fish that can move on land, and it has eyes located on top of its head. This allows it to scan its surroundings while partly emerging from the water. Its eyes even work a bit like a periscope!
