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Field Evidence for Polarized Light Sensitivity in the Fish Zenarchopterus

Abstract

POLARIZED light perception has never been unequivocally proven in vertebrates except man. An unusually alert human observer can see by inspection the plane of polarization (e-vector) in linearly polarized light by virtue of Haidinger's brushes, a faint blue and yellow image of intraocular origin produced by the selective absorption of polarized light by the yellow macular pigment of the fovea. Attempts to demonstrate polarized light perception in other vertebrates have, however, usually failed (for example in birds1,2).

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WATERMAN, T., FORWARD, R. Field Evidence for Polarized Light Sensitivity in the Fish Zenarchopterus. Nature 228, 85–87 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/228085a0

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