Summary
The ultrastructure of the compound eyes of 13 amphipod species has been investigated. An amphipod type of compound eye can be characterized by the constellation and consistency of a number of morphological features, most of which are also found in other compound eyes. The amphipod eye falls into four sub-categories (types). The ampeliscid type has a tripartite aberrant lens eye; the lysianassid type has a reduced or no dioptric apparatus and a hypertrophied rhabdom; the hyperid type possesses a large number of ommatidial units with long crystalline cones and dark instead of reflecting accessory pigment; and finally, the gammarid type can be interpreted as a generalized amphipod type. The lysianassid type is adapted to low light intensities and demonstrates convergent development with the compound eyes of other deep-sea crustaceans. The ampeliscid type is more similar to the gammarid type. The type characterization of the amphipod compound eye might well serve as a basis and incentive for functional studies also revealing adaptational mechanisms.
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This paper is dedicated to Professor Erik Dahl on his 65th birthday and retirement from the Chair of Structural Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Lund
The investigation has been supported by grants from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (Grants 2760-009 and 009-43). Our thanks are due to the staffs of the marine biological stations in Espegrend (Norway) and Kristineberg (Sweden) and of the research vessel “Jean Charcot”, Brest, France. The skilled technical assistance of Mrs. Rita Wallén and Miss Maria Walles is gratefully acknowledged
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Hallberg, E., Nilsson, H.L. & Elofsson, R. Classification of amphipod compound eyes — The fine structure of the ommatidial units (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Zoomorphologie 94, 279–306 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998206
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998206