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Glite Dictionary
👁️ Eye-like marking 🦟 Simple eye
ocellus

ocellus

9.9
A simple eye with one lens that detects light on many insects and jellyfish
  • noun
  • /əˈsɛləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ocelo
  • Some jellyfish possess a single ocellus to help them sense changes in light.

Examples

  • Unlike the compound eye, the ocellus is primarily used to detect light intensity rather than form images.

  • The butterfly has two distinct ocelli on its wings.

  • The honeybee has three small ocelli on top of its head in addition to its compound eyes.

  • An ocellus can help insects detect light.

  • The butterfly's wings displayed stunning patterns, including several ocelli that looked just like eyes.

  • Some jellyfish have a few ocelli that help them detect light in their environment.

  • The insect's ocellus allows it to sense movement and changes in light around it.

Synonyms

simple eye
vsocellus
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A part of an insect or spider body with one lens that helps it see

is the specific single-lens eye found in insects and some jellyfish
stemma
vsocellus
  • Specialized
9.9

A small simple eye with one lens that detects light but not clear images

is broader, appearing in insects and also some jellyfish

How Complex

compound eye
  • Specialized
6.0
ocellus
  • Specialized
9.9
photoreceptor
  • Specialized
2 6.5

Surface Forms

ocellus singular
ocelli plural

Etymology

Ocellus comes from the Latin oculus 'eye' and the small ending -ellus 'little', so it literally means 'little eye'. In animals, an ocellus is a simple 'little eye' — a small light sensor found in insects and some jellyfish rather than a full image-making eye.