anterior eyes

Definition

The forward-facing, principal eyes of arachnids, particularly spiders, often serving as the primary organs for vision.

Etymology

From Latin 'anterior', meaning 'front' or 'before', and 'oculus', meaning 'eye'.

Example

The anterior eyes of jumping spiders are larger and more prominent, providing them with acute vision for detecting movement and judging distances.

Synonyms

• Principal eyes
• Primary eyes

Related Terms

• Ocelli
• Lateral eyes
• Cephalothorax
• Vision

Usage Notes

Anterior eyes are typically used for tasks requiring high visual acuity, such as hunting and navigation, especially in species like jumping spiders.