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The transparent compound eye ofHyperia (Crustacea): Examination with a new method for analysis of refractive index gradients

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Summary

The optical system in the compound eye of the amphipodHyperia galba (Crustacea) was examined. The cornea is flat and lacks focusing properties. The crystalline cones are extremely long (up to 600 μm) and not shielded by screening pigment. Thus, the eye is transparent except for the dark retina in the centre.

The refractive index distribution in the crystalline cones was revealed with a new method for computer analysis of interferograms from intact, live crystalline cones. These and ray tracing applied to the optical system revealed that the crystalline cones have the following properties:

  1. 1.

    The distal part contains a graded index lens, corresponding to the corneal lens in insect apposition eyes.

  2. 2.

    In the proximal half of the cone, a second gradient was found with an increasing refractive index towards the proximal tip. This gradient acts by rejecting off-axis rays and rays entering from adjacent cones. Thereby, the proximal gradient replaces interconal screening pigment, which is present in apposition eyes of other arthropods.

  3. 3.

    The distal and proximal index gradients are separated by a portion of almost uniform refractive index.

  4. 4.

    The most proximal part of the cone acts as a short graded index optical fibre for rays within the acceptance angle.

Because the gradient system does not seem to confer any optical advantage compared with the presence of shielding pigments, it is interpreted as an adaptation to achieve a transparent, and thus less visible eye in a basically pelagic animal.

The optical information capacity was evaluated for different regions of the eye, and the dorsal part had interommatidial angles under 1 degree.

During the preparation of the final typescript of the present paper, a description of the optics in a similar eye of another hyperiid amphipod appeared in this journal (Land 1981). The results of these two independent investigations are partially similar, but the methods and the interpretation of the results are different, and therefore, a comparison of the two investigations is given in the Discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Lund, Helgonavägen 3, S-223 62, Lund, Sweden

    Dan -Eric Nilsson

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  1. Dan -Eric Nilsson
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Nilsson, D.E. The transparent compound eye ofHyperia (Crustacea): Examination with a new method for analysis of refractive index gradients. J. Comp. Physiol. 147, 339–349 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609668

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