Comments on: Snake-Spotting Theory Brings Primate Vision into Focus

By: Aritfact

Aritfact — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:33:31 +0000

I do know that rattlesnake in my part of the world change color to fit in with their habitat. They are very hard to see and will often not even rattle to warn you. That is the reason I wear snake proof gaiters all the time. If our eye sight cant be good enough to spot certain snake danger, then at least we can invent things to prevent us from getting bit. Of course this is somewhat different as a 3 foot rattlesnake is not looking to eat a human, just defend its self.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:06:39 +0000

Stereopsis has nothing to do with snake-spotting. Nor with throwing a spear at a retreating deer. Stereopsis is optimised for 30 – 40 cms, in other words, arms length. An opposable thumb helps. So it’s tool making and food preparation. That’s what has driven stereopsis. Jewelry (think beads) came later – but not much later. And then there was art. And then there was writing. And then there was us.

By: George

George — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:56:15 +0000

Now, this probably is a very unqualified comment from a non-scientist. But I find the idea that scientists try to explain why human vision developed to the degree it did with ONE reason (snake spotting or distance judging) rather silly. Given the complexity of our life (and that of our predecessors), there surely must have been many factors that encouraged a highly developed sense of vision.