Evolution of the red-green visual subsystem in trichromatic primates has been linked to foraging advantages, namely the detection of either ripe fruits or young leaves amid mature foliage. We tested competing hypotheses globally for eight primate taxa: five with routine trichromatic vision, three without. Routinely trichromatic species ingested leaves that were “red shifted” compared to background foliage more frequently than species lacking this trait. Observed choices were not the reddest possible, suggesting a preference for optimal nutritive gain. There were no similar differences for fruits although red-greenness may sometimes be important in close-range fruit selection. These results suggest that routine trichromacy evolved in a context in which leaf consumption was critical.
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1 November 2003
EVOLUTION AND FUNCTION OF ROUTINE TRICHROMATIC VISION IN PRIMATES
Peter W. Lucas,
Nathaniel J. Dominy,
Pablo Riba-Hernandez,
Kathryn E. Stoner,
Nayuta Yamashita,
Esteban LorÍa-Calderón,
Wanda Petersen-Pereira,
Yahaira Rojas-Durán,
Ruth Salas-Pena,
Silvia Solis-Madrigal,
Daniel Osorio,
Brian W. Darvell
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Evolution
Vol. 57 • No. 11
November 2003
Vol. 57 • No. 11
November 2003
Cone
diet
folivory
foraging
frugivory
opsin
retina
