Inter-individual differences in foveal shape in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans.

ABSTRACT: Birds, and especially raptors, are believed to forage mainly using visual cues. Indeed, raptors (scavengers and predators) have the highest visual acuity known to date. However, scavengers and predators differ in their visual systems such as in their foveal configuration. While the function of the foveal shape remains unknown, individual variation has never been quantified in birds. In this study, we examined whether foveal shape differs among individuals in relation to eye size, sex, age, eye (left or right) and genetic proximity in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans. We assessed foveal shape in 47 individuals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and geometric morphometric analysis. We found that foveal depth was significantly related to eye size. While

SUBMITTER: Potier S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7145841 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature