Properties of Single Cells in Posterior Lateral Eyes of Jumping Spiders

Abstract

Properties of single cells in the posterior lateral (PL) eyes of the jumping spider Plexippus validus are described. Only one spectral class of cells was encountered and the spectra sensitivity was indistinguishable from that measured from the ERG, both peaking at ca. 535 nm. Angular sensitivity (width of angular sensitivity function at the 50% level) averaged. 89° ±.12°, the smallest value being. 77°. Absolute sensitivity (reciprocal of the number of quanta of peak wavelength, on axis required to generate a 50% response) averaged 1.43 ± 2.5 × 10−11q−1.cm2.s. All cells studied were sensitive to the plane of polarised light. The performance of receptors in the P L eyes is compared with that of receptors in the compound eyes of diurnal insects. It is concluded that the single lens eye system of spiders is inherently superior in design to the insect compound eye. © 1978, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.