Spectral tuning in the eyes of deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): a novel sexually dimorphic intra-ocular filter

Brain, Behavior and Evolution
Fanny de BusserollesShaun P Collin

Abstract

Deep-sea fishes possess several adaptations to facilitate vision where light detection is pushed to its limit. Lanternfishes (Myctophidae), one of the world's most abundant groups of mesopelagic fishes, possess a novel and unique visual specialisation, a sexually dimorphic photostable yellow pigmentation, constituting the first record of a visual sexual dimorphism in any non-primate vertebrate. The topographic distribution of the yellow pigmentation across the retina is species specific, varying in location, shape and size. Spectrophotometric analyses reveal that this new retinal specialisation differs between species in terms of composition and acts as a filter, absorbing maximally between 356 and 443 nm. Microspectrophotometry and molecular analyses indicate that the species containing this pigmentation also possess at least 2 spectrally distinct rod visual pigments as a result of a duplication of the Rh1 opsin gene. After modelling the effect of the yellow pigmentation on photoreceptor spectral sensitivity, we suggest that this unique specialisation acts as a filter to enhance contrast, thereby improving the detection of bioluminescent emissions and possibly fluorescence in the extreme environment of the deep sea. The fact t...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 26, 2018·Journal of Fish Biology·N Justin MarshallKaren L Cheney
Apr 3, 2020·Journal of Morphology·Rene P Martin, Matthew P Davis
Feb 15, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Fanny de Busserolles, N Justin Marshall
May 11, 2019·Science·Zuzana MusilovaWalter Salzburger
Apr 25, 2020·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Karen L CarletonN Justin Marshall

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