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The Journal of Experimental Biology 205, 3425-3433 (2002)
Copyright © 2002 The Company of Biologists Limited

The eyes of suckermouth armoured catfish (Loricariidae, subfamily Hypostomus): pupil response, lenticular longitudinal spherical aberration and retinal topography

Ron H. Douglas1,*, Shaun P. Collin2,3 and Julie Corrigan1

1 Applied Vision Research Centre, Department of Optometry & Visual Science, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK
2 Department of Anatomy & Developmental Science, School of Biomedical Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
3 Anatomisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, Österbergstrasse 3, Tübingen, 72074, Germany

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: r.h.douglas{at}city.ac.uk)

Accepted 8 August 2002

The dilated, round pupils of a species of suckermouth armoured catfish (Liposarcus pardalis) constrict slowly on illumination (over 35-40 min) to form crescent-shaped apertures. Ray tracing of He—Ne laser beams shows that the lenses of a related species (Pterygoplichthys etentaculus), which also has a crescent-shaped pupil, are well corrected for longitudinal spherical aberration, suggesting that the primary purpose of the irregular pupil in armoured catfish is not to correct such aberration. It is suggested that the iris operculum may serve to camouflage the pupil of these substrate-dwelling species. An examination of the catfish retina shows the photoreceptors to be exclusively single cones interspersed with elongate rods and demonstrates the presence of multiple optic nerve head papillae. Two areas of high ganglion cell density, each side of a vertically oriented falciform process, provide increased spatial resolving power along the axes examining the substrate in front of and behind the animal.

Key words: catfish, pupil, retina, iris, aberration, Liposarcus pardalis, Pterygoplichthys etentaculus


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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2002