Fishes with Eye Shine: Functional Morphology of Guanine Type Tapetum Lucidum

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Abstract
In several teleost fish, guanine type ocular tapeta lucida were studied by conventional light and fluorescence microscopy. Retinal tapeta lucida were found in the eyes of Chlorophthalmus albatrossis, G. nigromarginatus, C. acutifrons, Beryx splendens, B. decadactylus, Polymixia japonica and P. berndti. Choroidal tapeta exist in the eyes of Neoscopelus microchir, Diaphus coeruleus, D. sagamiensis, Epigonus atherinoides, Priacanthus macracanthus, P. hamrur, P. boops and Pristigenys niphonia. Spectrophotometric and paper-chromatographic evidence reveals the tapetal material to be mainly guanine. Grouped receptors in the retinas of Chlorophthalmus and Polymixia and argentea in the eyes of Priacanthus are described and a classification of the tapeta lucida in teleosts is given. The relationship between retinal and choroidal tapeta is discussed and a possible explanation offered for the 2 types of tapetal organization in teleosts. Apparently, the 2 types are related to the ecology and behavior of the species concerned.