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A backwards view of visual adaptations: cranial specialization and predator evasion within a cursorial mammal

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dc.contributor.authorKraatz, B.
dc.contributor.authorSchmitz, L.
dc.contributor.authorFrankenburg, L.
dc.contributor.authorNelson, T.
dc.contributor.authorMaruta, J.
dc.contributor.authorSherratt, E.
dc.date.issued2026
dc.description.abstractThe evolution of the vertebrate visual system involves numerous biological systems, and may include field of view (FOV) transformations linked to changes in eye position within the cranium. Overall, FOV orientations are driven by ecological factors such as habitat, locomotor mode and foraging techniques. Rabbits typically have a divergent, wide FOV and are characterized as looking sideways, contrasted with the convergent, forward-looking orientations of humans. Under-appreciated morphological variation in the rabbit skull, particularly in facial tilt angles related to locomotory mode, suggests greater diversity in rabbit FOV than previously shown. To test this, we capture orbit orientations using landmark-based morphometric methods on a large existing digital skull dataset that represents all genera and most species of crown leporids. We find strong evolutionary relationships between downward facial tilting and the position of their orbits. Cursorial species tilt their faces more ventrally (e.g. most Lepus spp.), and their orbits are more divergent. Leporid species also exhibit a wide range of orbital vergence angles, similar to primates. We propose that leporid cranial specializations, such as facial tilt and divergent orbit positions, modify their FOV to allow them to better evade predators by capturing a complete view of their environment at the horizon.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityBrian Kraatz, Lars Schmitz, Luisa Frankenburg, Thomas J. Nelson, Jun Maruta, and Emma Sherratt
dc.identifier.citationRoyal Society Open Science, 2026; 13(4):252149-1-252149-15
dc.identifier.doi10.1098/rsos.252149
dc.identifier.issn2054-5703
dc.identifier.issn2054-5703
dc.identifier.orcidNelson, T. [0000-0002-7209-2915]
dc.identifier.orcidSherratt, E. [0000-0003-2164-7877]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/150338
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherThe Royal Society
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT190100803
dc.rights© 2026 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.252149
dc.subjectorbit orientation
dc.subjectbinocular vision
dc.subjectvisual field
dc.subjectorbit convergence
dc.subjectpredator evasion
dc.titleA backwards view of visual adaptations: cranial specialization and predator evasion within a cursorial mammal
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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