Six of the seven big cats have white eyespots, or ocelli, on the back of their ears (Nickell, 2017). The one big cat that does not have these spots, the lion, has a tufted tail instead, and is the only big cat to have a tufted tail. Tigers, jaguars, leopards, pumas, cheetahs and snow leopards all have ocellis on the back of their ears. Take a moment to think about why these animals have these evolutionary adaptations.
Many believe these cats have these false eyes, on the back of their ears are a mimicry defensive strategy to warn off predators (Stewart, 2019). However, because these cats are on the top of the food chain, many others believe these spots are a way to let their young know where they are as they follow behind them in the desert, grasslands, forests, rocky areas (inland cliffs, mountain peaks), and wetlands (inland). It is believed the lion has the dark end on their tufted tail as a ‘follow me’ sign through the tall grasses of Africa.
Nickell, M.W. (2017, June 20). Eyespots: On the trail with museum scientist. Sibley Nature
Reed, T. (2020, November 14). [Tiger sniffing wood] [Photograph].
Stert, J. (2019, October 14). Tigers have fake eyes on their ears as a possible defense
mechanism. My Modern Met. https://mymodernmet.com/tiger-eyespots-mimicry/
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