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The tuatara, a reptile native to New Zealand, has a “third eye” known as a parietal eye on the top of its head. This eye is not used for vision but helps regulate the animal’s circadian rhythms and hormone production.
Some animals that have a third eye include:
Lizards-Most lizards have a parietal eye, a non-visual, photosensitive organ that’s well developed with a lens, cornea, and retina.
Green iguanas-These lizards have a white parietal eye on the top of their heads that helps them detect predators stalking them from above.
Tuataras-These lizards have a third eye on the top of their heads, but it gets covered by scales as they grow up.
The third eye is a residual “parietal” eye that has disappeared in mammals and birds. It’s not usually functional and fades under skin and scales as animals mature.