New research suggests that the high quality vision of most primates had been driven by the constant threat of snakes. Snakes large enough to eat primates evolved at the same time as primates and venomous snakes about 40 million years after. Snakes continuously shared their environment with primates and have always been a threat. macaque monkeys raised in an environment without snakes, show a great amount of fear when presented with one. When researching these monkeys, special neural circuits to detect snakes where discovered. This suggests that the threat of snakes has forced the evolution of primate's close range vision. Primates have a larger neural response to the image of snakes than to a face. Read the whole article here
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131028162928.htm
I find this article fascinating primarily because of the snake mythology present in most cultures. Whether within Grecian religion or in Judeo-Christian religion, one is sure to discover heaps of mythology that relates to the evilness of snakes.With this new information on the subject, I find the recurring theme of devilish snakes makes even more sense. It is fascinating to consider the vital trait of exceptional vision to be an evolutionary response to such a deeply hated creature.
When I began reading this I also thought of the multicultural, fear of snakes in mythology too. I am always fascinated when research relates to mythology.
ReplyDeleteI think snakes are cute. They're all slithery and hissy. I'm one of the few people to think that, though... This article is super interesting. ^_^
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