Evolution of visual system specialization in predatory arthropods

Under strong selective pressure for survival, image-forming vision set off an ongoing predatory arms race 500 million years ago. Since then, and particularly so in the arthropods, predatory behavior has driven a myriad of eye adaptations that increase visual performance. In this review, we provide examples of how different arthropod predators have achieved improvements in key visual features such as spatial and temporal resolution of their retina. We then describe morphological, neural and behavioral strategies used by animals in this group to gather crucial information about the prey, such as its distance, velocity and size. We also highlight the importance of head and body tracking movements to aid in categorizing the potential prey, and briefly mention the ongoing work on the sensorimotor transformations necessary for target interception. •Image forming compound eyes were present in Cambrian predatory arthropods (~520 mya).•Several arthropod predators have evolved high-resolution single-chamber eyes instead.•Increases in spatial and temporal performance are eye, predator and niche dependent.•Arthropods use absolute and relative visual cues to gauge likelihood of prey capture.•Targets are tracked with continuous, ‘fixated-and-saccade’ or scanning movements.