The Neurobiology and Behavior of Predators and Prey 26th Annual Karger Workshop in Evolutionary Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., November 2014. Special Topic Issue: Brain, Behavior and Evolution 2015, Vol. 86, No. 1

Interactions between predator and prey can drive the evolution and diversification of nervous systems in astonishing ways. At the 2014 Karger Workshop, emerging leaders in the field presented highlights of some of the most compelling examples of co-evolved and specialized predators and prey. This subsequent special issue of ?Brain, Behavior and Evolution? includes discussions on neurotoxins, ion channels, visual systems, auditory localization, muscle activation, and echolocation. The species and questions addressed are equally diverse: How do alligators and owls localize sounds? What do two bats do when chasing the same insect? Why do some newts carry enough neurotoxin to kill twenty humans? What rules govern killer fly attack behavior? How do electric eels remotely control prey? Why are beautiful cone snails a potential cornucopia of pharmaceuticals? Overall, this publication provides valuable insight into why predator-prey interactions hold a special place in the study of biology and evolution.