Abstract
Polarization sensitivity, namely sensitivity to linearly polarized light, has been known in cephalopods for over 50 years. So far our neurological understanding of this polarization sensitivity has remained at the level of the retina, and our knowledge of how polarization information is processed is lacking. However, when examining function, a range of tasks in which polarization vision plays a role have been identified. These include, but are not limited to, detailed examination of the environment, target (including both prey and predator) detection and recognition, short range navigation, image stabilization and most likely communication. Neurological examination of the processing of polarization information and its integration with other sensory inputs on the one hand, along with a physical understanding of the propagation of the polarization signals under various conditions, are needed for a better understanding of the function of polarization vision in the lives of cephalopods.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Boal JG, Shashar N, Grable MM, Vaughan KH, Loew ER, Hanlon RT (2004) Behavioral evidence for intraspecific signaling with achromatic and polarized light by cuttlefish (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Behaviour 141:837–861
Cartron L, Darmaillacq AS, Jozet-Alves C, Shashar N, Dickel L (2012) Cuttlefish rely on both polarized light and landmarks for orientation. Anim Cogn 15:591–596
Cartron L, Shashar N, Dickel L, Darmaillacq AS (2013a) Effects of stimuli shape and polarization in evoking deimatic patterns in the European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis under varying turbidity conditions. Invertebr Neurosci 13:19–26
Cartron L, Dickel L, Shashar N, Darmaillacq AS (2013b) Maturation of polarization and luminance contrast sensitivities in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). J Exp Biol 216:2039–2045
Cartron L, Josef N, Lerner A, McCusker SD, Darmaillacq AS, Dickel L, Shashar N (2013c) Polarization vision can improve object detection in turbid waters by cuttlefish. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 447:80–85
Chiou TH, Mäthger LM, Hanlon RT, Cronin TW (2007) Spectral and spatial properties of polarized light reflections from the arms of squid (Loligo pealeii) and cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis L.). J Exp Biol 210:3624–3635
Darmaillacq AS, Shashar N (2008) Lack of polarization optomotor response in the cuttlefish Sepia elongata (d’Orbigny, 1845). Physiol Behav 94:616–620
Darmaillacq AS, Chichery R, Shashar N, Dickel L (2006) Early familiarization overrides innate prey preference in newly-hatched Sepia officinalis cuttlefish. Anim Behav 71:511–514
Goldsmith TH (1991) Photoreception and vision. In: Prosser CL (ed) Neural and integrative animal physiology. Wiley-Liss, New York, pp 171–245
Hanlon RT, Maxwell MR, Shashar N, Loew ER, Boyle KL (1999) An ethogram of body patterning behavior in the biomedically and commercially valuable squid Loligo pealei of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Biol Bull 197:49–62
Horváth G, Varjú D (2004) Polarized light in animal vision—polarization patterns in nature. Springer, Heidelberg
Johnsen S, Marshall NJ, Widder EA (2011) Polarization sensitivity as a contrast enhancer in pelagic predators: lessons from in situ polarization imaging of transparent zooplankton. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 366:655–670
Mäthger LM, Hanlon RT (2006) Anatomical basis for camouflaged polarized light communication in squid. Biol Lett 2:494–496
Mäthger L, Shashar N, Hanlon RT (2009) Do cephalopods communicate using polarized light reflections from their skin? J Exp Biol 212:2133–2140
Moody MF, Parriss JR (1960) Discrimination of polarized light by Octopus. Nature 186:839–840
Moody MF, Parriss JR (1961) Discrimination of polarized light by Octopus: A behavioral and morphological study. Z Vergl Physiol 44:268–291
Pignatelli V, Temple SE, Chiou TH, Roberts NW, Collin SP, Marshall NJ (2011) Behavioural relevance of polarization sensitivity as a target detection mechanism in cephalopods and fishes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 366:734–741
Saidel WM, Lettvin JY, McNichol EF (1983) Processing of polarized light by squid photoreceptors. Nature 304:534–536
Saidel WM, Shashar N, Schmolesky MT, Hanlon RT (2005) Discriminative responses of squid (Loligo pealeii) photoreceptors to polarized light. Comp Biochem Physiol A 142:340–346
Shashar N, Rutledge PS, Cronin TW (1996) Polarization vision in cuttlefish: a concealed communication channel? J Exp Biol 199:2077–2084
Shashar N, Hanlon RT, Petz AM (1998) Polarization vision helps detect transparent prey. Nature 393:222–223
Shashar N, Hagan R, Boal JG, Hanlon RT (2000) Cuttlefish use polarization sensitivity in predation on silvery fish. Vis Res 40:71–75
Shashar N, Milbury CA, Hanlon RT (2002) Polarization vision in cephalopods: neuroanatomical and behavioral features that illustrate aspects of form and function. Mar Freshwat Behav Physiol 35:57–68
Shashar N, Johnsen S, Lerner A, Sabbah S, Chiao CC, Mathger LM, Hanlon RT (2011) Underwater linear polarization: physical limitations to biological functions. Philos Trans R Soc B 366:649–654
Talbot CM, Marshall NJ (2010) Polarization sensitivity in two species of cuttlefish—Sepia plangon (Gray 1849) and Sepia mestus (Gray 1849)—demonstrated with polarized optomotor stimuli. J Exp Biol 213:3364–3370
Talbot CM, Marshall NJ (2011) The retinal topography of three species of coleoid cephalopod: significance for perception of polarized light. Philos Trans R Soc B 366:724–733
Temple S, Pignatelli V, Cook T, How M, Chiou TS, Roberts N, Marshall NJ (2012) High-resolution polarisation vision in a cuttlefish. Curr Biol 22:R121–R122
von Frisch K (1949) Die Polarisation des Himmelslichts als orientierender Faktor bei dem Tanzen der Bienen. Experientia 5:142–148
Young JZ (1971) The anatomy of the nervous system of Octopus vulgaris. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shashar, N. (2014). Polarization Vision in Cephalopods. In: Horváth, G. (eds) Polarized Light and Polarization Vision in Animal Sciences. Springer Series in Vision Research, vol 2. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54718-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54718-8_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-54717-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-54718-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)