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Fish Vision

  • Chapter
Development of the Vertebrate Retina

Part of the book series: Perspectives in Vision Research ((PIVR))

Abstract

All vertebrate eyes have evolved from those of common underwater living ancestors and consequently are strikingly similar structures which form an image with a single lens. In contrast, invertebrates have a rich variety of eye types which form images in one of three ways: with single lenses, multiple lenses, or mirrors (Land, 1984). Since eyes must obey fundamental optical laws, physical constraints on eye design and structure provide the most straightforward means of understanding the adaptive value of ocular specializations. Using these physical constraints, inferences about the selective forces that have undoubtedly “shaped” eyes can be made with some confidence, particularly in the study of aquatic eyes. In contrast, in the analysis of ocular development there is no corresponding a priori knowledge of fundamental constraints to aid in interpreting these developmental processes. Developmental similarities themselves must serve to guide our understanding of these processes. Phylogenetic comparisons offer significant advantages because the modifications that have occurred during evolutionary time are carried in organisms and are most evident during development.

Article Notes

To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.

Charles Darwin, The Origin of the Species

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 97403, Eugene, Oregon, USA

    Russell D. Fernald (Hilgard Visiting Professor)

  2. Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, California, USA

    Russell D. Fernald (Hilgard Visiting Professor)

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  1. Russell D. Fernald
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Barbara L. Finlay

  2. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Dale R. Sengelaub

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© 1989 Plenum Press, New York

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Fernald, R.D. (1989). Fish Vision. In: Finlay, B.L., Sengelaub, D.R. (eds) Development of the Vertebrate Retina. Perspectives in Vision Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5592-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5592-2_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5594-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5592-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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