Visitors to the ‘Silvia Zenari’ Natural History Museum in Pordenone may often feel as though a thousand eyes are fixed upon them. And they aren’t always eyes.
In nature, there are markings, shapes and patterns capable of deceiving the eye. They are called ‘ocelli’ or ‘eye spots’: false pupils that evolution has developed to increase the chances of survival or success in courtship.
A bird approaches a caterpillar and, suddenly, finds itself face to face with a menacing ‘mask’. Another looks like a snake. A butterfly spreads its wings wide and reveals large, dark eyes. Certain markings resemble an owl’s gaze, whilst in some fish, the ocelli near the tail can divert a predator’s attack away from the head and vital organs. The peacock offers one of the most spectacular examples: its tail, dotted with hundreds of ‘eyes’, is a masterpiece of sexual selection, capable of communicating strength, health and vitality to the female ‘at a glance’.
At the Pordenone Civic Museum of Natural History, you can take a close look at these astonishing evolutionary illusions and discover how nature can turn a simple spot into a winning strategy.
Fancy looking nature straight in the eye?
Come and visit us.