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Modern optics in exceptionally preserved eyes of Early Cambrian arthropods from Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Michael S. Y. Lee

    (South Australian Museum, North Terrace
    School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide)

  • James B. Jago

    (South Australian Museum, North Terrace
    School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes)

  • Diego C. García-Bellido

    (Instituto de Geología Económica/Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC-UCM), José Antonio Novais 2)

  • Gregory D. Edgecombe

    (The Natural History Museum)

  • James G. Gehling

    (South Australian Museum, North Terrace)

  • John R. Paterson

    (School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England)

Abstract

The eyes had it: complex vision in early arthropods Charles Darwin thought that the eye, which he called an “organ of extreme perfection”, was a serious challenge to evolutionary theory — but he was mistaken. Theory predicts that eyes can evolve with great speed, and now there is support for this prediction from the fossil record. Well-preserved fossils found in Early Cambrian shales from South Australia show that some of the earliest arthropods known had eyes very like those of some insects alive today, consisting of more than 3,000 individual lenses (ommatidia), with a zone of enlarged lenses generating binocular forward vision. The identity of the eye-bearing animal is unknown, but it was probably a large arthropod predator adapted for living in low light.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael S. Y. Lee & James B. Jago & Diego C. García-Bellido & Gregory D. Edgecombe & James G. Gehling & John R. Paterson, 2011. "Modern optics in exceptionally preserved eyes of Early Cambrian arthropods from Australia," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7353), pages 631-634, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:474:y:2011:i:7353:d:10.1038_nature10097
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10097
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