http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121029081354.htm
Biologists from the University of Bonn have discovered that the cichlid fish
Pelvicachromis taeniatus can see in the near infrared range; this was thought
to be unlikely until now. Seeing in the infrared range is apparently helping fish
to hunt in shallow African rivers.
Researchers investigated the ability to see in the infrared range using a classical prey choice
experiment. P. taeniatus also feeds on small crustaceans, such as freshwater shrimp. These
prey animals reflect near infrared radiation. The researchers used this fact to examine the
perception of infrared light. In a dark room a prey selection experiment was set up illuminated
by infrared lamps. In front of the water basin containing the fish freshwater shrimp were offered
in two separate chambers. One of the chambers with the prey was covered with a filter blocking
infrared wavelengths. The other chamber was covered with a filter that would let only infrared
light pass. "Consequently, the fish were only able to perceive the freshwater shrimp in one
chamber in the near infrared range" explains Dr. |Sebastian Baldauf, one of the scientists
involved in the study
As the experiment has shown, the fish were capable of perceiving prey in a wavelength range
above 780 nanometers. It is well-known that snakes can perceive far infrared radiation at longer
wavelengths above 2,000 nanometers. "But they don't use their eyes for this purpose; instead
they have a heat-sensitive pit organ,"
Biologists from the University of Bonn have discovered that the cichlid fish
Pelvicachromis taeniatus can see in the near infrared range; this was thought
to be unlikely until now. Seeing in the infrared range is apparently helping fish
to hunt in shallow African rivers.
Researchers investigated the ability to see in the infrared range using a classical prey choice
experiment. P. taeniatus also feeds on small crustaceans, such as freshwater shrimp. These
prey animals reflect near infrared radiation. The researchers used this fact to examine the
perception of infrared light. In a dark room a prey selection experiment was set up illuminated
by infrared lamps. In front of the water basin containing the fish freshwater shrimp were offered
in two separate chambers. One of the chambers with the prey was covered with a filter blocking
infrared wavelengths. The other chamber was covered with a filter that would let only infrared
light pass. "Consequently, the fish were only able to perceive the freshwater shrimp in one
chamber in the near infrared range" explains Dr. |Sebastian Baldauf, one of the scientists
involved in the study
As the experiment has shown, the fish were capable of perceiving prey in a wavelength range
above 780 nanometers. It is well-known that snakes can perceive far infrared radiation at longer
wavelengths above 2,000 nanometers. "But they don't use their eyes for this purpose; instead
they have a heat-sensitive pit organ,"
