Comments on: The eye http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/ Our place, our voices Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:26:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Parris http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-4260 Parris Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:54:46 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-4260 Do the squids you are studying have chromatophores? If not, then my thoughts are not of much value. If, however, there are chromatophores present, then there is a possibility that the squid has such a vision advantage over prey, competitors and predators, that camouflage is unnecessary. The next likely theory might be the eyes are so advanced to facilitate communication between squids in their nearly lightless environment. We really need more data. How do these creatures hunt? Are they solitary (hunters) or are they social? What is the ontogeny of these critters? Is there cooperation between younger and older specimens? A hierarchical cooperation? How do they choose a mate? I am fascinated by the creatures and excited by your research. Do the squids you are studying have chromatophores? If not, then my thoughts are not of much value.

If, however, there are chromatophores present, then there is a possibility that the squid has such a vision advantage over prey, competitors and predators, that camouflage is unnecessary. The next likely theory might be the eyes are so advanced to facilitate communication between squids in their nearly lightless environment.

We really need more data. How do these creatures hunt? Are they solitary (hunters) or are they social? What is the ontogeny of these critters? Is there cooperation between younger and older specimens? A hierarchical cooperation? How do they choose a mate?

I am fascinated by the creatures and excited by your research.

]]> By: ashy http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-4057 ashy Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:03:56 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-4057 do people eat them???????? do people eat them????????

]]> By: huriyyah http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-3755 huriyyah Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:28:34 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-3755 ashleigh! me tooo, i need some help as well...can some one please offer to explain my difficult question ashleigh! me tooo, i need some help as well…can some one please offer to explain my difficult question

]]> By: huriyyah http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-3754 huriyyah Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:27:51 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-3754 i dont see a pupil!! i dont see a pupil!!

]]> By: mischa http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-2990 mischa Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:59:46 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-2990 more!!!!!!!!!! more!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: hi http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-2935 hi Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:03:06 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-2935 more!!! more!!!

]]> By: catie http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-2781 catie Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:50:33 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-2781 sorry a but ash she a pain in the but i would like to now lots about the eye please e-mail me thanks catelyn sorry a but ash she a pain in the but
i would like to now lots about the eye please e-mail me

thanks
catelyn

]]> By: ashleigh http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-2779 ashleigh Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:44:26 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-2779 thatz real interesting i am currently working on a project for science and i am finding alot about the eye.. thatz real interesting i am currently working on a project for science and i am finding alot about the eye..

]]> By: The eye - great photos « Te Papa’s Blog http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-2720 The eye - great photos « Te Papa’s Blog Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:09:40 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-2720 [...] about 12cm across. But remember the mass of the whole eye is much bigger. You can read more about the eye in the posts from the [...] [...] about 12cm across. But remember the mass of the whole eye is much bigger. You can read more about the eye in the posts from the [...]

]]> By: chrispaulin http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2008/04/30/the-eye/#comment-2596 chrispaulin Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:14:07 +0000 http://tepapa.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-2596 The eye of the squid is morphologically similar to that of vertebrates: this is sometimes used as an example of "convergent evolution." The general idea being that the benefits of having an eye with particular features are so significant that any adaptation that leads to those features will be selected for, so even when two groups of organisms (cephalopods and vertebrates in this case) have arrived at the basic structure for an eye through independent evolution, there will be a very strong pressure to reach a similar morphology, because that morphology conveys a definite advantage. Early research into genes found that organisms as diverse as fruit flies and vertebrates had the same HOX gene code for eyes. Therefore, it seems that primitive eyes developed in the common ancestor of all bilaterally symmetrical animals, which then developed independently into the more advanced eyes in cephalopods and vertebrates. The lens, pupil, and retina arrangement is effective and developed in both cephalopods and vertebrates – while the basic structure is the same, there are significant differences in the focusing lenses and arrangement of the receptors on the retina. In one way the cephalopod eye is better than that of vertebrates – the photoreceptors face the light, and they do not have a ‘blind spot’ found in vertebrates where the retina is ‘backwards’. Despite this, the vertebrate eye still works well! The eye of the squid is morphologically similar to that of vertebrates: this is sometimes used as an example of “convergent evolution.” The general idea being that the benefits of having an eye with particular features are so significant that any adaptation that leads to those features will be selected for, so even when two groups of organisms (cephalopods and vertebrates in this case) have arrived at the basic structure for an eye through independent evolution, there will be a very strong pressure to reach a similar morphology, because that morphology conveys a definite advantage.

Early research into genes found that organisms as diverse as fruit flies and vertebrates had the same HOX gene code for eyes. Therefore, it seems that primitive eyes developed in the common ancestor of all bilaterally symmetrical animals, which then developed independently into the more advanced eyes in cephalopods and vertebrates. The lens, pupil, and retina arrangement is effective and developed in both cephalopods and vertebrates – while the basic structure is the same, there are significant differences in the focusing lenses and arrangement of the receptors on the retina. In one way the cephalopod eye is better than that of vertebrates – the photoreceptors face the light, and they do not have a ‘blind spot’ found in vertebrates where the retina is ‘backwards’. Despite this, the vertebrate eye still works well!

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