Skip to main content

Ophthalmology of Afrotheria: Aardvarks, Hyraxes, Elephants, Manatees, and Relatives

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Wild and Exotic Animal Ophthalmology

Abstract

Afrotheria is a unique and highly diverse clade of placental mammals. Their diversity is so great and morphologies so different that only by genomic analysis would one conceive phylogenetic relatedness. Once being a sequestered landmass, Africa diversified and species filled ecological niches through convergent evolution rather than gene flow: insectivores (elephant shrews, golden moles, tenrecs, and aardvarks), rodents (hyraxes), large herbivores (elephants), and aquatic mammals (manatees and dugongs).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahnelt PK, Kolb H (2000) The mammalian photoreceptor mosaic- adaptive design. Prog Retin Eye Res 9:711–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asher RJ, Lehmann T (2008) BMC biology. Dental eruption in afrotherian mammals. BMC Biol 6:14

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bapodra P, Bouts T, Mahoney P et al (2010) Ultrasonographic anatomy of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) eye. J Zoo Wildl Med 41(3):409–417. https://doi.org/10.1638/2009-0018.1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer GB, Colbert DE, Gaspard JC, Littlefield B, Fellner W (2003) Underwater visual acuity of Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Int J Comp Psychol 16:130–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Shlomo G, Brooks DE, Barrie K et al (2008) Tonometry in the Florida manatee. In: 39th Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Shlomo G, Brooks DE, Plummer C et al (2010) A novel corneal anatomy observed in the Florida manatee. Vet Ophthalmol 13:418–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Shlomo G, Plummer C, Barrie K et al (2012) Characterization of the normal dark adaptation curve of the horse. Vet Ophthalmol 15:42–45

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cerreta AJ, McMullen RJ, Scott HE et al (2019) Bilateral phacoemulsification in an African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Case Rep Vet Med. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2506263

  • Cleland BG, Crewther DP, Crewther SG, Mitchell DE (1982) Normality of spatial resolution of retinal ganglion cells in cats with strabismic amblyopia. J Physiol 326:235–249

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen JL, Tucker GS, Odell DK (1982) The photoreceptors of the West Indian manatee. J Morphol 183:197–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curcio CA, Allen KA (1990) Topography of ganglion cells in human retina. J Comp Neurol 300:5–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903000103

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis RK, Argueso P (2014) Composition of terrestrial and marine mammal tears is dependent on species and environment. IOVS 55:36

    Google Scholar 

  • Dengler-Crish CM, Crish SD, O’Riain MJ et al (2006) Organization of the somatosensory cortex in elephant shrews (E. edwardii). Anat Rec 288:859–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duke Elder S (1958) The eye in evolution. In: System of ophthalmology. Henry Kimpton Publishers, London, p 470

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg JF, Gould E (1969) The tenrecs: a study in mammalian behavior and evolution. Smithson Contrib Zool 27:1–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraunfelder FT, Finnegan M, Wilson DJ (2006) Conjunctival-corneal intraepithelial neoplasm in an Asia elephant (Elephas Maximus). J Zoo Wildl Med 37:424–426

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman C (1986) A review of the management of the Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) in captivity. Int Zoo Yearb 24/25:286–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould E, Eisenberg JF (1966) Notes on the biology of the Tenrecidae. J Mammal 47:660–686

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griebel U, Schmid A (1997) Brightness discrimination ability in the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). J Exp Biol 200:1587–1592

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griebel U, Schmide A (1996) Color vision in the Manatee (Trichechus manatus). Vision Res 36(17):2747–2757

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths M (1968) Echidnas. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper JY, Lewis PA, Samuelson DA (2004) An examination of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in the Corneas of the Florida Manatee. IOVS 45:2344

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper JY, Samuelson DA, Reep RL (2005) Corneal vascularization in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus) and threedimensional reconstruction of vessels. Vet Ophthalmol 8:89–99

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield JR, Samuelson DA, Lewis PA (2003) Structure and presumptive function of the iridocorneal angle of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), and African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Vet Ophthalmol 6:35–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi S, Osawa T, Tohyama K (2002) Comparative observations on corneas, with special reference to Bowman’s layer and Descemet’s membrane in mammals and amphibians. J Morphol 254:247–258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes A (1977) The topography of vision in mammals. In: Crescitelli, handbook of sensory physiology, vol 7. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson GL (1901) Contributions to the comparative anatomy of the mammalian eye, chiefly based on ophthalmoscopic examination. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 194:22–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Kern T, Colitz CMH (2013) Exotic animal ophthalmology. In: Gelat KN, Gilger BC, Kern TJ (eds) Veterinary ophthalmology, 5th edn. Ch 33. Wiley-Blackwell, pp 1750–1819

    Google Scholar 

  • Kodikara DS, De Silva N, Makuloluwa CA et al (1992) Bacterial and fungal pathogens isolated from corneal ulcerations in domesticated elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) in Sri Lanka. Vet Ophthalmol 2(3):191–192. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1463-5224.1999.00072.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhrt H, Bringmann A, Hartig W et al (2017) The retina of Asian and African elephants: comparison of newborn and adult. Brain Behav Evol 89:84–103. https://doi.org/10.1159/000464097

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann T (2009) Phylogeny and systematics of the Orycteropodidae (Mammalia, Tubulidentata). Zool J Linnean Soc 155(3):649–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manchip KEL, Sayers G, Lewis JCM et al (2019) Unilateral phacoemulsification in a captive African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Open Vet J 9:294–300

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mass AM, Odell DK, Ketten DR, Supin AY (1997) Ganglion layer topography and retinal resolution of the Caribbean manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris. Dokl Biol Sci 355:392–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Matas M, Wise I, Masters NJ et al (2010) Unilateral eyelid lesion and ophthalmologic findings in an aardvark (Orycteropus afer): case report and literature review. Vet Ophthalmol 13(Suppl. 1):116–122

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCullagh KG, Gresham GA (1969) Eye lesions in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Res Vet Sci 10:587–591. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-5288(18)34401-1

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mess A, Carter AM (2006) Evolutionary transformations of fetal membrane characters in Eutheria with special reference to Afrotheria. J Exp Biol 306B:140–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Millar RP (1973) An unusual light-shielding structure in the eye of the dassie, Procavia capensis Pallas (Mammalia: hyracoidea). Ann Transvaal Mus 28:203–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy CJ, Kern TJ, Howland HC (1992) Refractive state, corneal curvature, accommodative range and ocular anatomy of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Vis Res 32:2013–2121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy WJ, Pringle TH, Crider TA et al (2007) Using genomic data to unravel the root of the placental mammal phylogeny. Genome Res 17:413–421

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Natiello M, Lewis P, Samuelson D (2005) Comparative anatomy of the ciliary body of the west indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) and selected species. Vet Ophthalmol 8:375–385

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Natiello N, Samuelson D (2005) Three-dimensional reconstruction of the angioarchitecture of the ciliary body of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Vet Ophthalmol 8:367–373

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nei M, Zhang J, Yokoyama S (1997) Color vision of ancestral organisms of higher primates. Mol Biol Evol 14:611–618

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newman LA, Robinson PR (2006) The visual pigments of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Vis Res 46:3326–3330

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolaev S, Montoya-Burgos JI, Margulies EH et al (2007) Early history of mammals is elucidated with the ENCODE multiple species sequencing data. PLoS Genet 3:e2

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • O’Day KJ (1952) Observations on the eye of the monotreme. Trans Ophthal Soc Aust 12:95–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Peichl L, Künzle H, Vogel P (2000) Photoreceptor types and distributions in the retinae of insectivores. Vis Neurosci 17:943–948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew JD, Bhagwandin A, Haagensen M et al (2010) Visual acuity and heterogeneities of retinal ganglion cell densities and the tapetum lucidum of the African elephant (Loxodonta Africana). Brain Behav Evol 75:251–261. https://doi.org/10.1159/000314898

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piggins D, Muntz WRA, Best RC (1983) Physical and morphological aspects of the eye of the manatee (Trichechus inunguis) natterer 1883: (Sirenia: Mammalia). Marine Behav Physiol 9:111–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit G, Rochon-Duvigneaud A (1929) L’oeil et la vision de L’Halicore dugong ERXL. Bull Soc Zool Fr 54:129–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahm U (1990) “Tubulidentates: Aardvark”. In: Parker SP (ed) Grzimek’s Encyclopedia of Mammals, vol 4. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York, p 452

    Google Scholar 

  • Rochon-Duvigneaud A (1943) Les yeaux et la vision des vertebres. Masson, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson DA (2013) Ophthalmic anatomy. In: Gelatt KN, Gilger BC, Kern TJ (eds) Veterinary ophthalmology, 5th edn. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Ames, pp 39–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson DA, Travers A, Lewis PA, Young JH (2004) Corneal angiogenesis in the Florida manatee. Invest Ophthalmol Visual Sci 45:4805

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson DA, Reppas G, Wong M, Lewis PA, Barrie KP, Graham AR (2007) Re-invented nasolarimal system among selected subungulate species. IOVS 48:1214

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson DA, McGee JL, Maciejewski K et al (2009) Description of uniquely devised extrinsic ocular musculature in the Florida manatee. IAAAM. Poster abstract

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson DA, McGee JL, Maciejewski K, Strobel MM, Lewis PA (2010) A uniquely constructed extraocular myology in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). IOVS 51:6334

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoshani J (2005) “Order Hyracoidea” In: Wilson DE, Reeder DM (eds) Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference, 3rd edn. Johns Hopkins University Press, pp 88–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Siemen D (1976) Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Reduktion des Auges bei unterirdisch lebenden oder nachtaktiven Säugetieren. Diplomarbeit (diploma thesis), Sektion Biologie, Universität Kiel

    Google Scholar 

  • Soemmering DW (1818) De oculorum hominis animaliumque sectione horizontali commentatio. Gottingen. An extract edited by Anderson, S. 8r Munk, 0. (1971). Lederle Labs, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetter MD (2003) Tubulidentata (Aardvarks). In: Fowler ME, Miler RE (eds) Zoo and wild animal medicine. Saunders, Missouri, pp 538–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone J (1983) Topographical organization of the retina in a monotreme: Australian apiny anteater (Tachyglossus aculeatus). Brain Behav Evol 22:175–184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stone J, Halasz P (1989) Topography of the retina in the elephant, Loxodonta africana. Brain Behav Evol 34:84–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suedmeyer W (2006) Special senses. In: Fowler ME, Mikota SK (eds) Biology, medicine and surgery of elephants. Blackwell Pub, Ames, pp 399–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Svartman M, Stanyon R (2012) The chromosomes of Afrotheria and their bearing on mammalian genome evolution. Cytogen Genome Res 137:144–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walls G (1942) The vertebrate eye and its adaptive radiation. Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

    Google Scholar 

  • West JA, Sivak JG, Murphy CJ et al (1991) A comparative study of the anatomy of the iris and ciliary body in aquatic mammals. Can J Zool 69:2594–2260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willis CK, Skinner JD, Robertson HG (1992) Abundance of ants and termites in the False Karoo and their importance in the diet of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer). Afr J Ecol 30:322–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfer J, Rich P (1992) Persistent corneal erosion in an Asian elephant. Can Vet J 33:337–339

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama S, Takenaka N, Agnew DW et al (2005) Elephants and human color-blind deuteranopes have identical sets of visual pigments. Genetics 170:335–344. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.104.039511

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bret A. Moore .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Freeman, K., Ben-Shlomo, G., McMullen, R., Moore, B.A. (2022). Ophthalmology of Afrotheria: Aardvarks, Hyraxes, Elephants, Manatees, and Relatives. In: Montiani-Ferreira, F., Moore, B.A., Ben-Shlomo, G. (eds) Wild and Exotic Animal Ophthalmology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81273-7_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics