Flashing spots on the dorsal trunk of hardyhead silverside fish
Open Access
- 7 April 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by The Royal Society in Royal Society Open Science
- Vol. 8 (4)
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201578
Abstract
A large number of living creatures are able to use ambient light effectively in biological signalling. Atherinomorus lacunosus, a teleost fish has alignments of circular spots on its dorsal trunk. The spot consists of iridophores, whose diameters are approximately 7–10 µm. The iridophore contains guanine crystals with diameters of 1–3 µm. Here, it is found that more than one spot with a diameter of approximately 0.1 mm causes a rhythmic flashing of light when viewed under white light. The typical light flash has a pulse width of approximately one second. When a pulsed train of flashes appears, the flash repeats at a typical frequency of 0.5–1 Hz. The observed phenomenon is one example of the evidence for the existence of rapid colour changing teleost fish.Funding Information
- CREST “Advanced core technology for creation and practical utilization of innovative properties and functions based upon optics and photonics (Grant number: JPMJCR16N1).”
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