Licht-im-Terrarium: Literaturdatenbank
Licht-im-Terrarium: Literaturdatenbank |
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Winter, Y., López, J., & von Helversen, O. (2003). Ultraviolet vision in a bat. Nature, 425, 612–614. Added by: Sarina (2009-03-09 11:52:03) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: 10.1038/nature01971 BibTeX citation key: Winter2003 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: Englisch = English Keywords: Säugetiere = Mammals, Sehvermögen = Visual Perception, Ultraviolett = Ultraviolet Creators: von Helversen, López, Winter Collection: Nature |
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| Abstract |
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Most mammals, with the exception of primates, have dichromatic vision and correspondingly limited colour perception1. Ultraviolet vision was discovered in mammals only a decade ago2, and in the few rodents and marsupials where it has been found, ultraviolet light is detected by an independent photoreceptor2, 3. Bats orient primarily by echolocation, but they also use vision. Here we show that a phyllostomid flower bat, Glossophaga soricina, is colour-blind but sensitive to ultraviolet light down to a wavelength of 310 nm. Behavioural experiments revealed a spectral-sensitivity function with maxima at 510 nm (green) and above 365 nm (ultraviolet). A test for colour vision was negative. Chromatic adaptation had the same threshold-elevating effects on ultraviolet and visible test lights, indicating that the same photoreceptor is responsible for both response peaks (ultraviolet and green). Thus, excitation of the beta-band of the visual pigment is the most likely cause of ultraviolet sensitivity. This is a mechanism for ultraviolet vision that has not previously been demonstrated in intact mammalian visual systems.
Added by: Sarina |