eyevolution
evolutionary development of visual systems across species
Live Telemetry
Generation
0
Avg Fitness
0.338
Eye Diversity
0.333
Convergence
0.000
Dominant Type
Eyespot
Eye Type Distribution Over Time
Proportion of each eye type in the population across generations
None
Eyespot
Pit Eye
Pinhole Eye
Lens Eye
Compound Eye
Population Fitness & Diversity
Average fitness and eye type diversity over generations
Average Fitness
Eye Type Diversity
Fitness Landscape
Current environmental selection pressures affecting eye evolution
Light Intensity
0.80
Favors light-sensitive eyes
Environment Complexity
0.50
Favors high-acuity eyes
Predator Presence
0.30
Favors wide field of view
Phylogenetic Analysis
Current eye type distribution in active lineages
None
12
12.0%
Eyespot
88
88.0%
Pit Eye
0
0.0%
Pinhole Eye
0
0.0%
Lens Eye
0
0.0%
Compound Eye
0
0.0%
Understanding Eye Evolution
Evolutionary Pressures
- • Light Intensity: Higher light favors more complex optical structures
- • Environmental Complexity: Complex environments reward better spatial resolution
- • Predator Presence: Drives evolution of motion detection and wide field vision
- • Selection Pressure: Determines rate of evolutionary change
Convergent Evolution
Similar eye types evolve independently in different lineages when faced with similar environmental challenges. This simulation shows:
- • Camera eyes evolved in vertebrates, cephalopods, and some jellyfish
- • Compound eyes appeared in arthropods and some mollusks
- • Mirror eyes developed in scallops and some crustaceans
- • Each represents an optimal solution to specific visual challenges
Key Innovations
Photoreceptor Proteins
Opsins and related proteins that convert light into neural signals are ancient and highly conserved across all seeing organisms.
Crystallin Lenses
Transparent proteins that focus light evolved multiple times from different metabolic enzymes co-opted for optical properties.
Image Processing
Neural circuits for edge detection, motion processing, and pattern recognition co-evolved with optical improvements.
Evolutionary Timeline
- ~600 MYA: First light-sensitive proteins in single cells
- ~550 MYA: Simple eyespots in early bilaterians
- ~540 MYA: Cambrian explosion - rapid eye diversification
- ~500 MYA: First camera and compound eyes
- ~400 MYA: Terrestrial adaptations for vision in air
- Present: Continued refinement and specialization
References & Further Reading
- • Nilsson & Pelger (1994) - "A pessimistic estimate of the time required for an eye to evolve"
- • Land & Fernald (1992) - "The evolution of eyes"
- • Nick Lane - "Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution"
- • Parker (2003) - "In the Blink of an Eye"