Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Cone monochromacy and visual pigment spectral tuning in wobbegong sharks.


ABSTRACT: Much is known regarding the evolution of colour vision in nearly every vertebrate class, with the notable exception of the elasmobranchs. While multiple spectrally distinct cone types are found in some rays, sharks appear to possess only a single class of cone and, therefore, may be colour blind. In this study, the visual opsin genes of two wobbegong species, Orectolobus maculatus and Orectolobus ornatus, were isolated to verify the molecular basis of their monochromacy. In both species, only two opsin genes are present, RH1 (rod) and LWS (cone), which provide further evidence to support the concept that sharks possess only a single cone type. Examination of the coding sequences revealed substitutions that account for interspecific variation in the photopigment absorbance spectra, which may reflect the difference in visual ecology between these species.

SUBMITTER: Theiss SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3497134 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Cone monochromacy and visual pigment spectral tuning in wobbegong sharks.

Theiss Susan M SM   Davies Wayne I L WI   Collin Shaun P SP   Hunt David M DM   Hart Nathan S NS  

Biology letters 20120919 6


Much is known regarding the evolution of colour vision in nearly every vertebrate class, with the notable exception of the elasmobranchs. While multiple spectrally distinct cone types are found in some rays, sharks appear to possess only a single class of cone and, therefore, may be colour blind. In this study, the visual opsin genes of two wobbegong species, Orectolobus maculatus and Orectolobus ornatus, were isolated to verify the molecular basis of their monochromacy. In both species, only tw  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC23167 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5501831 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3585243 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2492582 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4409040 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7416698 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9624264 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7451407 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4536979 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2581816 | biostudies-literature