Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
Published on: July 8, 2025
Comparison of anterior segment health in wild and captive common murres
Kate S Freeman1, Christine Fiorello2, Michael Murray3
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 W. Drake Rd., Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate and compare the anterior segment health of wild and captive common murres.
Procedures:
Thirty wild common murres (Uria aalge) were captured and housed in freshwater pools and had an adnexal and anterior segment exam performed prior to a subsequent wildlife health study. The examination included phenol red thread tear tests, fluorescein staining, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, rebound tonometry, and conjunctival culture sampling. Six captive common murres housed in natural seawater at the Monterey Bay Aquarium were examined in a similar manner.
Results:
The most common ophthalmic lesion in the wild birds was corneal fibrosis with 55% prevalence, and over half of these were potentially vision threatening. Lenticular opacity (cataract or sclerosis or both) was the most common lesion in captive murres seen in 67% of the eyes. Mean phenol red tear test for all eyes without ulcers was 20 ± 3.6 mm. Mean intraocular pressure for all eyes without ulcers or flare was 23 ± 2.6 mmHg. The wild murres had a low percentage (17%) of positive conjunctival cultures. The captive murres had no growth on any culture.
Conclusions:
Wild murres are more likely to suffer corneal lesions, whereas captive murres are more likely to experience age-related lenticular diseases. Corneal scarring indicates that wild murres are frequently exposed to ocular trauma and the body condition scores indicate they appear to remain successful predators despite some vision compromise.
