Not perhaps as cool as the eye of the tiger, but nevertheless, a pretty intricate system of rods, cones and chromophores. Not only that, but the recent work suggests that selective processing or different pathways for chromophore uptake in different photoreceptor types may be occurring. If so, this may have have ecological and functional implications, and this opens the door for future evolutionary studies. Read soon more from the article to be appear in Journal of Experimental Biology.
Saarinen PK, Pahlberg J, Herczeg G, Viljanen M, Karjalainen M, Shikano T, Merilä J & K Donner (2012) Spectral tuning by selective chromophore uptake in rods and cones of eight populations of nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius). Journal of Experimental Biology, in press.
2 Comments
Without light there is no sight. Interesting topic !!! Blend of Physics, Ecology.
Vision perception of aquatic animals is completely different from terrestrial animals.Light changes its direction when travelling from one medium to another (Refraction: Physics). Light intensity varies as per the depth. Deeper you go light reduces. Rods and Cones are vary as per the habitat (adaptation) of the fish i.e. depth they live. Let’s wait for spectral tuning of ninespines.
This is out now:
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/215/16/2760.abstract