Caecilians maintain a functional long-wavelength-sensitive cone opsin gene despite signatures of relaxed selection and more than 200 million years of fossoriality
María José Navarrete Méndez, Sina Amini, Juan Carlos Santos, Jacob Saal, Marvalee H. Wake, Santiago R. Ron, Rebecca D. Tarvin
This study identifies a functional long-wavelength-sensitive opsin gene in caecilian amphibians despite their fossorial lifestyle and reduced eyes, challenging assumptions about their visual capabilities.
Evolution · Sep 24, 2025Peer-reviewedEvolutionary Biology