What is the believed purpose of the parietal eye located on top of a lizard's head?
Answer
Sensitivity to light and dark changes
The parietal eye, sometimes referred to as the 'third eye,' is a specialized light-sensitive organ situated on the top surface of the lizard's skull. Although this structure is incapable of forming detailed, complex images like the main pair of eyes, its primary known function relates to simple detection. It is sensitive to variations in ambient light levels and changes between light and dark. This sensitivity is theorized to assist the lizard in two key ways: helping to regulate body temperature by sensing direct overhead solar exposure, or acting as a simple warning system to detect rapidly moving shapes overhead, such as potential aerial predators.
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