engleski

Is Troglocaris anophthalmus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae) blind, eyeless, or both?

Eyesta1ks of cavemicolous Troglocaris sp. cf anophthalmus from an Istrian cave were examined by light, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy. Apart from nervous tissue inside the eyestalk, no indications of ommatidia or their constituent cells were found. A few sensory bristles on the outer surface and piles of condensed membrane, surrounded by what could have been haemocyte spherules, in the cytoplasm of sub-cuticular eyesta1k cells were seen instead. Electrophysiologically and behaviourally no sensitivity could be demonstrated.

Troglocaris ; eyestalks ; electrophysiology ; cave

The Rector Lauri Lajunen of Oulu University and Nowotka Metallbau KG (Bremen) were financially supported this project.