pineal eye

noun

1. an eyelike structure that develops from the pineal apparatus in certain cold-blooded vertebrates.

pineal eye

noun

1. an outgrowth of the pineal gland that forms an eyelike structure on the top of the head in certain cold-blooded vertebrates

pineal eye

1. A sensory structure capable of light reception, appearing as a spot on the top of the head in lampreys, hagfish, amphibians, and some reptiles, especially the tuatara. Pineal eyes can contain a rudimentary cornea, lens, cone cells, and retina, and are thought to be sensitive to light and dark but not to be able to form images.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pineal eye¹

First recorded in 1885–90