Sex differences in behavioural and anatomical estimates of visual acuity in the green swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri.

ABSTRACT: Among fishes in the family Poeciliidae, signals such as colour patterns, ornaments and courtship displays play important roles in mate choice and male-male competition. Despite this, visual capabilities in poeciliids are understudied, in particular, visual acuity, the ability to resolve detail. We used three methods to quantify visual acuity in male and female green swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri), a species in which body size and the length of the male's extended caudal fin ('sword') serve as assessment signals during mate choice and agonistic encounters. Topographic distribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was similar in all individuals and was characterized by areas of high cell densities located centro-temporally and nasally, as well as a weak horizontal streak. Based on the peak

SUBMITTER: Caves EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8729911 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature