As Blind as a Bat? Opsin Phylogenetics Illuminates the Evolution of Color Vision in Bats.

ABSTRACT: Through their unique use of sophisticated laryngeal echolocation bats are considered sensory specialists amongst mammals and represent an excellent model in which to explore sensory perception. Although several studies have shown that the evolution of vision is linked to ecological niche adaptation in other mammalian lineages, this has not yet been fully explored in bats. Recent molecular analysis of the opsin genes, which encode the photosensitive pigments underpinning color vision, have implicated high-duty cycle (HDC) echolocation and the adoption of cave roosting habits in the degeneration of color vision in bats. However, insufficient sampling of relevant taxa has hindered definitive testing of these hypotheses. To address this, novel sequence data was generated for the SWS1 and MWS/L

SUBMITTER: Simoes BF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6340466 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature