OBSERVATIONS ON THE COLOR CHANGES AND ISOLATED SCALE ERYTHROPHORES OF THE SQUIRREL FISH, HOLOCENTRUS ASCENSIONIS (OSBECK)

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Abstract
H. ascensionis changes its color with remarkable rapidity. It shows a shift from the pale to the red condition in response to a shift in background from light to dark within 10 sec. The reverse change is accomplished in 5 sec. These alterations in the distribution of the red pigment granules within the erythrophores are under the control of sympathetic pigment-motor fibers. When the skin of the fish is subjected to 35[degree]C the pigment of the erythrophores assumes the dispersed condition. After denervation of these cells, by cutting the sympathetic chain, the effect of high temps, is reversed, the pigment withdrawing into the central body of the cell. Low temps, have the opposite effect, causing concentration of the pigment in innervated cells and dispersion in de-nervated cells. Isolated scale erythrophores as well as xanthophorea of Holocentrus also show spontaneous pulsations when immersed in N/10 NaCl, while the isolated scale melanophores assume the dispersed state. The melanophores show pulsations in NaCl only if they have been previously treated with N/10 BaCk.

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