Molecular Evolution of Ultraviolet Visual Opsins and Spectral Tuning of Photoreceptors in Anemonefishes (Amphiprioninae).

ABSTRACT: Many animals including birds, reptiles, insects, and teleost fishes can see ultraviolet (UV) light (shorter than 400 nm), which has functional importance for foraging and communication. For coral reef fishes, shallow reef environments transmit a broad spectrum of light, rich in UV, driving the evolution of diverse spectral sensitivities. However, the identities and sites of the specific visual genes that underly vision in reef fishes remain elusive and are useful in determining how evolution has tuned vision to suit life on the reef. We investigated the visual systems of 11 anemonefish (Amphiprioninae) species, specifically probing for the molecular pathways that facilitate UV-sensitivity. Searching the genomes of anemonefishes, we identified a total of eight functional opsin genes from al

SUBMITTER: Mitchell LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8511661 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature