Summary
Eye diameter relative to body length, and interommatidial angle, rhabdom length and rhabdom width as a function of eye size, were determined for specimens of 19 benthic macruran decapod species in 8 genera and 5 families, spanning a wide range of habitat depths. For these species, eye diameter relative to body length tends to increase with adult habitat. In addition, rate of eye growth relative to body growth increases with habitat depth, a trend opposite to that of pelagic crustaceans previously investigated. Interommatidial angle decreases with increasing eye diameter, and therefore with depth for an individual of a particular size. Rhabdom length and width tend to increase with eye diameter. Visual sensitivity may increase with depth among these species as a result of both larger eyes and the associated increase in rhabdom dimensions. Differences in energetic limitations and visual environments might produce the difference in trends of eye size relative to body size between benthic and pelagic crustaceans.
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Hiller-Adams, P., Case, J.F. Optical parameters of the eyes of some benthic decapods as a function of habitat depth (Crustacea, Decapoda). Zoomorphology 105, 108–113 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312145
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312145