this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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I wonder if that afforded some level of protection to the surface dwellers' receptors when in direct contact with high levels of sunlight.
As usual with biologists, if they do not understand what it does they claim it's a useless byproduct of evolution. A few years later they discover there is actual purpose to it, and it is actually pretty nifty. Rinse and repeat.
I have heard the theory that it evolved this way for higher UV protection that was not needed in underwater organisms. Curious if it was really that much of a competitive advantage though.
Edit: okay more recent studies show not so much protection but basically filtering and redirecting light so out eyes can see better color on land. See this comment: https://lemmy.world/comment/18892927
cheers, thanks for that!
Wonder what would happen if an octopus looked directly at the sun
Or an oarfish or anything from the midnight zone that actually has eyes