Morphology and density distribution of cone photoreceptor in the retina of the atlantic stingray, <i>Dasyatis sabina</i>

Logiudice, F. T.; Laird, Roger

doi:10.1002/jmor.1052210304

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Despite differences in methodology, the monocular visual field of D. sabina obtained in the present study (199°) is very similar to that reported by Nicol (190°). Sivak described a ramp retina in D. sabina (Sivak, 1975), which permits simultaneous focus of images at various distances, and Logiudice and Laird reported the presence of rods, cones and a horizontal visual streak (Logiudice and Laird, 1994). The horizontal visual streak would likely enhance the visual acuity within the horizontal monocular visual field of D. sabina, which was the largest measured in this study.…”

Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 51%

Visual fields of four batoid fishes: a comparative study

McComb

Kajiura

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe visual fields of elasmobranch fishes are not well characterized even though this is a fundamental element of the visual system. The batoid fishes (skates, rays) form a monophyletic clade within the subclass Elasmobranchii and exhibit a broad range of morphologies and corresponding ecologies. We hypothesized that their visual field characteristics would reflect their diverse morphology and ecology. This was tested by quantifying the monocular, binocular and cyclopean horizontal and vertical visual fields of four batoid species (Raja eglanteria, Urobatis jamaicensis, Dasyatis sabina and Rhinoptera bonasus) that encompassed a range from a basal skate to a more derived ray. The horizontal and vertical visual fields differed significantly among species; however, all species possessed horizontal anterior and dorsal binocular overlaps. Urobatis jamaicensis, a small reef-associated stingray, demonstrated a 360° panoramic visual field in the horizontal plane, and R. bonasus, a schooling benthopelagic ray, a 360° panoramic view in the vertical plane. Large anterior binocular overlaps were measured in D. sabina (72°) and R. bonasus (46°) but came at the expense of large posterior blind areas. The anterior binocular overlaps in R. eglanteria (28°) and U. jamaicensis (34°) were smaller but were coupled with large monocular fields that provided expansive peripheral views. The most phylogenetically basal species, the clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), had the most reduced visual field in contrast to the more derived ray species. To our knowledge, this study represents the first comparative assessment of visual fields in basal vertebrates.

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Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 51%

Visual fields of four batoid fishes: a comparative study

McComb

Kajiura

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Cones were less prevalent and were distinguished by their short, conical outer segments, their large inner segments and the presence of a nucleus that is more sclerad than the nuclei of the rods. These characteristics are seen in the cone cells of other elasmobranch species as well [Kohbara et al, 1987;Collin, 1988;Braekevelt, 1992Braekevelt, , 1994bLogiudice and Laird, 1994]. Large horizontal cells have previously been reported in the elasmobranchs retina Gruber and Cohen, 1985;Collin, 1988] and although a detailed analysis was not performed, it's probable that both species have at least 2 morphological types of horizontal cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Interspecific Visual Adaptations among Wobbegong Sharks (Orectolobidae)

2010

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Several visual traits have previously been assessed in elasmobranchs; however, few studies have examined and compared multiple visual attributes within a particular genus. The primary advantage of studying closely related species is that any differences between them are more likely to reflect functional ecological adaptations rather than the effects of phylogenetic separation. In this study, the visual capabilities of 4 wobbegong shark species, which vary in life-history and/or habitat, were examined: the western wobbegong (Orectolobus hutchinsi), the spotted wobbegong (O. maculatus), the ornate wobbegong (O. ornatus) and the dwarf spotted wobbegong (O. parvimaculatus). The retinae of all 4 wobbegong species are duplex; rod and cone photoreceptors can be distinguished easily on the basis of morphology. Some variation in relative eye size exists, with O. parvimaculatus possessing the largest eyes. The topographic distribution of cells within the ganglion cell layer of O. hutchinsi reveals a weakly elongated central visual streak of increased cell density, mediating a higher spatial resolving power of 2.06 cycles deg^–1 in the frontal visual field. Retinal topography of O. maculatus and O. parvimaculatus is similar, with both possessing a dorsal horizontal streak facilitating an increased spatial resolving power of 3.51 cycles deg^–1 and 3.91 cycles deg^–1, respectively, in the lower visual field. O. parvimaculatus also possesses an area of increased cell density in the naso-ventral region of the retina, mediating acute vision in the upper caudal region of the visual field. While all 4 species have visual systems optimised for increased visual sensitivity, O. maculatus and O. parvimaculatus appear to be particularly well suited to activity under low light conditions.

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“…Other species of batoids with a dorsal horizontal streak include the shovel-nosed ray, Rhinobatos batillum [Collin, 1988, l999], and the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina [Logiudice and Laird, 1994]. This downwardly projecting specialization may indicate the need to panoramically survey the visual field (or the sand-water interface) without requiring both eye and body movements, which could reveal the animal's location after they bury themselves into the substrate.…”

Section: Retinal Topography In Batoidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have investigated chemosensory, mechanoreceptive and electroreceptive organs [Murray, 1960[Murray, , 1962Kalmijn, 1982;Tricas, 1982;Theisen et al, 1986;Zeiske et al, 1987;Viverge, 1989] in a range of species, but few have concentrated on the visual system. Some aspects of retinal morphology have been reported in sharks [Gilbert, 1963;Stell and Witkovsky, 1973a;Ali and Anctil, 1974;Gruber, 1975;Gruber et al, 1975;Gallego, 1979;Kohlbara et al, 1988], chimaeras [Collin, 1999] and rays [Dowling and Ripps, 1970;Sivak and Luer, 1991], but the distribution of cells occupying the retinal ganglion cell [Stell and Witkovsky, 1973b;Peterson and Rowe, 1980;Collin, 1988Collin, , 1999 or photoreceptor layers [Hueter, 1991;Logiudice and Laird, 1994] has received little attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retinal Ganglion Cell Topography in Elasmobranchs

2000

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Retinal wholemounts are used to examine the topographic distribution of retinal cells within the ganglion cell layer in a range of elasmobranchs from different depths. The retina is examined for regional specializations for acute vision in six species of selachians, Galeocerdo cuvieri, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, Scyliorhinus canicula, Galeus melastomus, Etmopterus spinax, Isistius brasiliensis, one species of batoid, Raja bigelowi and one species of chimaera, Hydrolagus mirabilis. These species represent a range of lifestyles including pelagic, mesopelagic and benthic habitats, living from shallow water to the sea bottom at a depth of more than 3000 m. The topography of cells within the ganglion cell layer is non-uniform and changes markedly across the retina. Most species possess an increased density of cells across the horizontal (dorsal) meridian or visual streak, with a density range of 500 to 2,500 cells per mm² with one or more regional increases in density lying within this specialized horizontal area. It is proposed that the higher spatial resolving power provided by the horizontal streak in these species mediates panoramic vision in the lower frontal visual field. Only I. brasiliensis possesses a concentric arrangement of retinal iso-density contours in temporal retina or an area centralis, thereby increasing spatial resolving power in a more specialized part of the visual field, an adaptation for its unusual feeding behavior. In Nissl-stained material, amacrine and ganglion cell populations could be distinguished on the criteria of soma size, soma shape and nuclear staining. Quantitative analyses show that the proportion of amacrine cells lying within the ganglion cell layer is non-uniform and ranges between 0.4 and 12.3% in specialized retinal areas and between 8.2 and 48.1% in the peripheral non-specialized regions. Analyses of soma area of the total population of cells in the ganglion cell layer also show that the pelagic species possess significantly smaller soma (9–186 μm²) than benthic and/or deep-sea species (16–338 μm²), and that a number of different morphological classes of cells are present including a small population of giant ganglion cells.

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Morphology and density distribution of cone photoreceptor in the retina of the atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina

Cited by 16 publications

References 19 publications

Visual fields of four batoid fishes: a comparative study

Visual fields of four batoid fishes: a comparative study

Interspecific Visual Adaptations among Wobbegong Sharks (Orectolobidae)

Retinal Ganglion Cell Topography in Elasmobranchs

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