The majority of birds have a diurnal lifestyle, meaning they are primarily active during the day. Specifically, the authors propose that selection has acted on epigenetic mechanisms to package the DNA in retinal cells in such a way that it acts as a light-channeling lens to enhance photoreception. In addition to confirming the important role of the visual and auditory systems, the study, which was overseen by Dr Bart Kempenaers and Dr Jakob Mueller, in collaboration with Dr Martina Carrete at the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Spain, suggests the existence of an unusual adaptation not yet described in birds, shedding new light on the evolutionary history of this nighttime predator. In a recent article in Genome Biology and Evolution titled “Genomic evidence for sensorial adaptations to a nocturnal predatory lifestyle in owls,” Pamela Espíndola-Hernández, a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, and colleagues report the results of a genome-wide scan to uncover the genetic and selective mechanisms that underlie the owls’ particular adaptations ( Espíndola-Hernández et al. Owls have evolved several features that leave them well suited to this task, combining raptorial traits like acute vision and sharp talons with nocturnal adaptations such as enhanced hearing and night vision. Hunting prey in the dark comes with a number of challenges. As the only birds with a nocturnal, predatory lifestyle, owls occupy a unique niche in the avian realm.
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