Interestingly, two pair of eyespots (i.e., a stronger conspicuous signal) did not increase attack latency compared with when the birds encountered prey models with only one pair of eyespots (i.e., a weaker conspicuous signal) and by that the authors rejected the generality of the "Conspicuous signal hypothesis".
This experiment was designed to test whether a reduction in the area of the conspicuous signal decreases their effectiveness.
With respect to our scoring scheme, the vertical part of the network of Fig. 1a weighs 6 units, thus indicating a conspicuous reticulate signal.
A conspicuous visual signal making breeding males distinguishable from females and non-breeding males can reduce mate-searching time by (1) facilitating the visual detection of females, (2) minimising unwanted clasping attempts with rivals and (3) reducing harassment by rivals.
Furthermore, in an attempt to distinguish the "Eye-mimicry hypothesis" from the "Conspicuous signal hypothesis," Merilaita and colleagues (2011) presented mounted wings from peacock butterflies (with a meal worm as bait), which had either 1) both pairs of eyespots painted over, 2) one pair of eyespots painted over, or 3) all eyespots visible.
Yokota et al. (2008) conducted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys in this area and detected conspicuous signal decline areas at high frequencies.
Finally, two distinct Sox members (both belonging to the B1 group, see Figure S5, AB) showed strong and conspicuous signal throughout the depth of the neuroepithelium (vz to mz) at st.24 (Fig. 2L N, L'–N').
Therefore, the total area of the conspicuous signal is conserved across treatments with eyespots.
The total area of the conspicuous signal was found to be most important, rather than the number of eyespots or the size of individual eyespots.
Stevens et al. [ 22] found that the total area of the conspicuous signal determines eyespots' effectiveness, irrespective of the number of eyespots (1, 2 or 3).
