We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Ocular morphology of the Leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea).
- Authors
Brudenall, Denise K.; Schwab, Ivan R.; Fritsches, Kerstin A.
- Abstract
Objective The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest extant reptile and the sole member of the family Dermochelyidae. Here, the eye of this critically endangered marine turtle was investigated to determine the anatomy, optics, and optical sensitivity. Animals studied Three Leatherback sea turtles, Dermochelys coriacea. Results The eye is small in proportion to body size of the adult compared to other vertebrates, with prominence of the retractor bulbi and pyramidalis muscles. The nictitans shows extensive folding of the bulbar conjunctiva as an apparent mechanism to increase the surface area for mucus secretion. The intraocular anatomy is consistent with an eye adapted to aquatic vision with minimal curvature of the cornea, a near-spherical lens, deep ciliary cleft and highly vascularized ciliary body. The optical sensitivity, a measure of the sensitivity to light of a given optical system, is higher than in other marine turtles studied but lower than those found in teleost fish that share a habitat with the Leatherback sea turtle. Conclusions The Leatherback sea turtle shows ocular features that are characteristic of Chelonians with similarities to aquatic mammals. The calculated optical sensitivity suggests that compared to pelagic fishes, for instance, the Leatherback sea turtle eye is not particularly well adapted for vision in dim light even though this species is known to venture into deep, dark waters, and might feed at night.
- Subjects
SEA turtles; DERMOCHELYS; ANIMAL morphology; ENDANGERED species; VISUAL acuity
- Publication
Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2008, Vol 11, Issue 2, p99
- ISSN
1463-5216
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00607.x