The Influence of Maximum Running Speed on Eye Size: A Test of Leuckart's Law in Mammals

摘要: Vertebrate eye size is influenced by many factors, including body or head size, diet, and activity pattern. Locomotor speed has also been suggested to influence in a relationship known as Leuckart's Law. Law proposes that animals capable of achieving fast locomotor speeds require large eyes enhance visual acuity avoid collisions with environmental obstacles. The selective rapid flight invoked explain the relatively birds, but remains untested nonavian vertebrates. This study investigates between maximum running diverse sample mammals. Measures axial diameter, speed, mass were collected from published literature for 50 species 10 mammalian orders. analysis reveals absolute significantly positively correlated Moreover, significant when potentially confounding effects phylogeny are statistically controlled. results this therefore consistent expectations demonstrate faster-moving mammals have larger than their slower-moving close relatives. Accordingly, we conclude one several key factors evolution