Visual opsin genes expressed in the rod and cone photoreceptor cells of the retina are core
components of the visual sensory system of vertebrates. Here, we provide an overview of the …

The visual pigments of vertebrates evolved about 500 million years ago, before the major
evolutionary step of the development of jaws. Four spectrally distinct classes of cone opsin …

The origin of biological diversity, via the formation of new species, can be inextricably linked
to adaptation to the ecological environment. Specifically, ecological processes are central to …

Birds are highly visual animals with complex visual systems. In this article, we discuss the
spectral characteristics and genetic mechanisms of the spectral tuning of avian visual …

Among vertebrates, teleost eye diversity exceeds that found in all other groups. Their
spectral sensitivities range from ultraviolet to red, and the number of visual pigments varies …

It has been 25 years since the formalization of the Sensory Drive hypothesis was published
in the American Naturalist (1992). Since then, there has been an explosion of research …

Light has been exploited for information by organisms through the evolution of
photoreceptors and, ultimately, eyes in animals. Only a handful of eye types exist because …

Lake Victoria cichlids are one of the most speciose groups of vertebrates. Selection on
coloration is likely playing an important role in their rapid speciation. To test the hypothesis …

Hundreds of species of cichlid fishes have evolved in the Great Lakes of Africa. These
colorful fishes are known for their ecological diversity. Here, we discuss the diversity of their …

Midas cichlid fish are a Central American species flock containing 13 described species that
has been dated to only a few thousand years old, a historical timescale infrequently …