Trilobite eyes: A remarkable example of early evolution — Science News, February 2, 1974
Trilobites, with around 20,000 known species, were a diverse group that became extinct approximately 250 million years ago. In 1974, lenses found in a type of trilobite called phacopids were discovered to be similar in shape to some telescope lenses, indicating that phacopids could focus on objects both near and far. Recent fossil analysis has revealed that the optical abilities of phacopids were even more impressive than previously thought. It appears that phacopids had two compound eyes, each containing up to 200 smaller lenses, allowing them to detect light in dark ocean waters, as reported by researchers in 2021.
2024-02-02 07:00:00
Originally from www.sciencenews.org