The spectral sensitivity of the lens eyes of a box jellyfish, Tripedalia cystophora (Conant)

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Box jellyfish, or cubomedusae (class Cubozoa), are unique among the Cnidaria in possessing lens eyes similar in morphology to those of vertebrates and cephalopods. Although these eyes were described over 100 years ago, there has been no work done on their electrophysiological responses to light. We used an electroretinogram (ERG) technique to measure spectral sensitivity of the lens eyes of the Caribbean species Tripedalia cystophora. The cubomedusae have two kinds of lens eyes, the lower and upper lens eyes. We found that both lens eye types have similar spectral sensitivities, which likely result from the presence of a single receptor type containing a single opsin. The peak sensitivity is to blue-green light. Visual pigment template fits indicate a vitamin A-1 based opsin with peak sensitivity near 500 nm for both eye types.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Experimental Biology
Volume209
Issue numberPt 19
Pages (from-to)3758-65
Number of pages7
ISSN0022-0949
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Animals; Cubozoa; Electroretinography; Lens, Crystalline; Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate; Rod Opsins; Spectrum Analysis

ID: 10453096