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Spectral sensitivity of cones in an ungulate
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106.
Visual Neuroscience
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Domestic pigs possess two types of cone cells in their eyes, enabling dichromatic color vision. This finding supports the classification of ungulates as arrhythmic, with visual systems adapted for both day and night conditions.
Area of Science:
- Comparative vision research
- Ophthalmology
- Animal physiology
Background:
- Ungulates are considered arrhythmic, exhibiting visual traits suited for both diurnal and nocturnal activity.
- Diurnal vision is often linked to multiple cone classes and color perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the visual characteristics of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa), an arrhythmic ungulate.
- To determine the number of cone classes and their spectral sensitivities in the pig retina.
Main Methods:
- Electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry was employed to assess cone function.
- Spectral sensitivity curves (lambda max) for each cone class were measured.
Main Results:
- The study identified two distinct cone classes in the domestic pig's retina.
- The average maximum sensitivities (lambda max) for these cones were recorded at 439 nm and 556 nm.
Conclusions:
- The domestic pig possesses the necessary retinal architecture for dichromatic color vision.
- These findings provide evidence for the visual adaptations of ungulates to varying light conditions.