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The eyes of mesopelagic crustaceans

III. Thysanopoda tricuspidata (Euphausiacea)

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Summary

The compound eyes of the mesopelagic euphausiid Thysanopoda tricuspidata were investigated by light-, scanning-, and transmission electron microscopy. The eyes are spherical and have a diameter that corresponds to 1/6 of the carapace length. The hexagonal facets have strongly curved outer surfaces. Although there are four crystalline cone cells, only two participate in the formation of the cone, which is 90–120 μm long and appears to have a radial gradient of refractive index. The clear zone, separating dioptric structures and retinula, is only 90–120 μm wide. In it lie the very large oval nuclei of the seven retinula cells. Directly in front of the 70 μm long and 15 μm thick rhabdom a lens-like structure of 12 μm diameter is developed. This structure, known in only a very few arthropods, seems to be present in all species of Euphausiacea studied to date. It is believed that the rhabdom lens improves near-field vision and absolute light sensitivity. Rod-shaped pigment grains and mitochondria of the tubular type are found in the plasma of retinula cells. The position of the proximal screening pigment as well as the microvillar organization in the rhadbdom are indicative of light-adapted material. The orthogonal alignment of rhabdovilli suggests polarization sensitivity. Behind each rhabdom there is a cup-shaped homogeneous structure of unknown, but possibly optical function. Finally, the structure and the function of the euphysiid eye are reviewed and the functional implications of individual components are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    V. Benno Meyer-Rochow & Steve Walsh

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  1. V. Benno Meyer-Rochow
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  2. Steve Walsh
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Additional information

This study was begun during the 1975 “Alpha Helix” South East Asia Bioluminescence Expedition to the South Moluccan Islands

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Meyer-Rochow, V.B., Walsh, S. The eyes of mesopelagic crustaceans. Cell Tissue Res. 195, 59–79 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233677

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