Fear of Snakes Drove Primate Evolution, Scientist Says

[ecstatic]

An evolutionary arms race between early snakes and mammals triggered the development of improved vision and large brains in primates, a radical new theory suggests.

The idea, proposed by Lynne Isbell, an anthropologist at the University of California, Davis, suggests that snakes and primates share a long and intimate history, one that forced both groups to evolve new strategies as each attempted to gain the upper hand.


To avoid becoming snake food, early mammals had to develop ways to detect and avoid the reptiles before they could strike. Some animals evolved better snake sniffers, while others developed immunities to serpent venom when it evolved. Early primates developed a better eye for color, detail and movement and the ability to see in three dimensions—traits that are important for detecting threats at close range.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060721/sc_space/fearofsnakesdroveprimateevolutionscientistsays

[Mz Pip]

1. Works for me

I hate snakes. Perhaps there are genetic memories in my brain about them. They scare me.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Salviati]

2. Eventually mankind developed technology...

Which allowed us to leave forever the ground that those treacherous snakes crawled upon. We thought that We had finally won the battle with this age old foe. We were wrong...




(You knew that this had to be coming...)

[sgxnk]

3. the snake thing

especially interesting considering the whole genesis thang

there is much wisdom in ancient fables

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Don't ignore the cultures that revered the serpent

A great many cultures worshipped snakes, usually as bringers of wisdom. Which still fits in with the proposed idea. :hi:

[sgxnk]

7. correct

some christian sects in the US even

[arcane1]

8. indeed, the serpent in Genesis called God out on his lies

nothing evil at all about that serpent

[Bolo Boffin]

10. Very nice point.

I guess what you're getting at is that some early humans came to see the enemy serpent for what it was, an animal like any other, and that knowledge allowed them to overcome their ingrained fear, and conquer their own hearts.

Very interesting...

[Mabus]

6. We're battling them in the air

so we don't have to battle them down here.

[TroubleMan]

17. LOL....It didn't help Samuel L Jackson's acting evolve.

He used to be great, and now he's falling into his own cliche.

[kenny blankenship]

4. And for a while all was well...until snakes pursued us onto our planes

[Bolo Boffin]

11. LOL!

Motherf*cking snakes on a motherf*cking plane!

[Ready4Change]

9. Ok, now explain

Some peoples irrational fear of mice.

I can see not LIKING mice, as they devour food stores or carry disease. But FEARING them?

Snakes might bite, might poison, or even devour our very early predecessors. But MICE?

[Bolo Boffin]

12. I'd guess:

that mice emerging from holes mimicked the movement of snakes enough that it activated the snake-fear.

In other words, the fear is not precisely of snakes, but that shape darting around in the dark.

[frogmarch]

13. Fear of mice

I'm not sure, but I think fear of mice is taught. Anyway, I've never known a child who'd never seen one before to be afraid when they do. When my sister's daughter was around two, she saw a mouse for the first time and exclaimed, "Look! A bunny!" None of my three kids were ever afraid of them either. They learned that mice were nuisances and disease carriers, but the sight of one never made them afraid.

[Nihil]

14. How much time should be spent on analysing "irrational" fears?

i.e., if it's a genuine phobia then there is no rational reason for it ...

My guess for the fear of mice (as opposed to a phobia of mice) is that they
are similar to rats ... creatures that - unlike mice - are willing to bite
humans in the wrong place (e.g., near their young, between them and their
escape route).

Rodents are rodents, should be treated with respect but no need to have an
"irrational fear" about them ...

[semillama]

15. I would think that snakes would be handicapped

in any arms race.

[Nihil]

16. Well, that deserves a ...

:spank:

(but also a :toast: for making me smile!)