Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task.

ABSTRACT: Red sensitivity is the exception rather than the norm in most animal groups. Among species with red sensitivity, there is substantial variation in the peak wavelength sensitivity (λ_max) of the long wavelength sensitive (LWS) photoreceptor. It is unclear whether this variation can be explained by visual tuning to the light environment or to visual tasks such as signalling or foraging. Here, we examine long wavelength sensitivity across a broad range of taxa showing diversity in LWS photoreceptor λ_max: insects, crustaceans, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, fish, sharks and rays. We collated a list of 161 species with physiological evidence for a photoreceptor sensitive to red wavelengths (i.e. λ_max ≥ 550 nm) and for each species documented abiotic and biotic

SUBMITTER: Margetts BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10828735 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature