Abstract
The nature and distributions of photoreceptor cell types were investigated in the retinas of 12 species (5 families) of elopomorph anguilliform leptocephalus larvae. Anti-opsin immunofluorescence, light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to assess opsin distribution across the retinas and to associate photoreceptor morphology and opsin content. Retinas of all species were immunoreactive with anti-rhodopsin throughout, while anti-cone opsin immunoreactivity was restricted only to the ventral region of the retina in all specimens. Rod and cone photoreceptors were morphologically indistinguishable at low magnifications; TEM revealed that nearly all photoreceptors had rod-like ultrastructure, with only rare examples of cone-like cells identified in the ventral retina. These results indicate a rhodopsin/rod-dominated retina in leptocephalus larvae of anguilliform eels in the teleost subdivision Elopomorpha, contrasting with the cone-dominated retinas of nearly all other species of teleost larvae. This distinctive developmental pattern shared among elopomorph larvae has important evolutionary and ecological implications, indicating a shared ancestor and/or ecological characteristics that are very different from most other teleost larvae.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Sigma-Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research to S.M. Taylor. R. Cowen and many members of his team at the University of Miami RSMAS allowed use of their vessel, equipment and personnel to help collect larvae. W.J. DeGrip (U. Nijmegen, Netherlands) donated the primary antisera for the immunological staining. C. Harris (Florida Tech), assisted with the immunostaining.
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Taylor, S.M., Loew, E.R. & Grace, M.S. A rod-dominated visual system in leptocephalus larvae of elopomorph fishes (Elopomorpha: Teleostei). Environ Biol Fish 92, 513–523 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9871-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9871-6