Biologyevolution News

"Unraveling the Enigma of the Sea Creature with Eyes Across Its Shell"

Researchers have discovered that chitons, small marine mollusks, evolved eyes on four separate occasions, resulting in two distinct visual systems. Some chitons have thousands of eyes embedded in their shells, while others have smaller eyespots. The study, led by evolutionary biologist Rebecca Varney, found that the different visual systems evolved independently and in quick succession, with some groups developing similar structures despite being distant relatives. The number of slits in the chiton's shell plates appears to influence the complexity of their visual systems. Ongoing research aims to understand how these structures process visual information.