Cone visual pigments and retinal mosaics in the striped marlin

Abstract

Three different cone photoreceptor visual pigments in the retina of striped marlin Tetrapturus audax were found with the aid of microspectrophotometry. This provides the first evidence for the basis of colour vision in the Istiophoridae. Furthermore, regional variations in photoreceptor density, type and spatial arrangement indicate differing visual capabilities along different visual axes. © 2003 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.