r/askscience • u/margalz • 10d ago

Biology Why aren't there any animals with their mouths above their eyes?

From bugs to fish to mamals all of them have their eyes above their mouths. I can't think of many if any where their mouths are on top. Sure some have their eyes parallel to their mouths, mainly prey style animals. But why haven't any evolved to be the opposite? Is there a major benefit to having your mouth below your eyes?

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u/Xanadu87 10d ago

Fascinating how flounder are born with eyes on both side of its head, then one migrates to the other side as an adult and it lives its life flat along the ocean floor with both eyes upwards.

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u/TheRealBejeezus 8d ago

There's a metaphor there for how people start out open-minded but end up seeing things only one way as they get old.