ocellus

American  

[oh-sel-uhs] / oʊˈsɛl əs /

noun

• ocelli
  plural

1. a type of simple eye common to invertebrates, consisting of retinal cells, pigments, and nerve fibers.

2. an eyelike spot, as on a peacock feather.

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ocellus British  

/ ɒˈsɛləs /

noun

1. the simple eye of insects and some other invertebrates, consisting basically of light-sensitive cells

2. any eyelike marking in animals, such as the eyespot on the tail feather of a peacock

3. botany

   1. an enlarged discoloured cell in a leaf

   2. a swelling on the sporangium of certain fungi

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ocellus Scientific  

/ ō-sĕl′əs /

• ocelli
  plural

1. A small, simple eye or eyespot, found in many invertebrates.

2. A marking that resembles an eye, as on the wings of some butterflies.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ocellation
  noun
• ocellar
  adjective
• ocellate
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ocelli
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of ocellus

1810–20; < Latin: little eye, diminutive of oculus eye; see -elle

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ocellus ocelli

Thus the formation of an ocellus in its most elementary state appears to be a simple affair.

From The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

Crown with a small ocellus? adjoining each eye.

From Zoological Illustrations, Volume III or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals by William Swainson

Thus the formation of an ocellus in its simplest state appears to be a simple affair.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Charles Darwin

It should be particularly observed that each ocellus stands in obvious connection either with a dark stripe, or with a longitudinal row of dark spots, for both occur indifferently on the same feather.

From The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

The indentation of the central disc and surrounding zones of the ocellus in both species of peacock, seems to me to speak plainly in favour of this view; and this structure is otherwise inexplicable.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Charles Darwin

Bands of small blue ocelli are present on the rump feathers and near the tips of the uppertail coverts and tail feathers.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 16, 2013

Although hydras do not have eyes, other members of their family have simple eyes called ocelli.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 20, 2012

Darwin was acutely aware of this and admired the modelling of the ocelli on the argus pheasant tail feathers as "more like a work of art than of nature".

From The Guardian ● Feb. 10, 2012

Lastly, the several ocelli are separated from each other by a pale surface bearing irregular black marks.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Charles Darwin

Part of Secondary wing-feather of Argus pheasant, shewing two, a and b, perfect ocelli.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Charles Darwin

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