National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Snake Threat May Have Spurred Evolution of Primate Eyes


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Four cobras—one of the best known species of venomous snakes—sit entwined around each other. New research suggests that early primates may have developed their keen eyesight to better detect and avoid increasingly dangerous snakes—especially poisonous ones—in a sort of evolutionary arms race.

Photograph by James P. Blair/NGS