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Ontogeny Of Visual And Mechanosensory Structure And Function In Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia Tyrannus, Dennis M. Higgs, Lee A. Fuiman

Biological Sciences Publications

The importance of visual, mechanoreceptive and auditory inputs to escape responses was examined in larvae of the Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) presented with a simulated predatory stimulus. Ontogenetic changes in the retina, superficial neuromasts and auditory bullae were examined in concert with behavioral trials in which sensory inputs were selectively blocked. Menhaden larvae showed a decrease in cone photoreceptor density and first developed rod photoreceptors when their total length (TL) reached 8-10 mm; they began summing photoreceptive inputs at 12-14 mm TL. Inflation of the auditory bullae was complete by 15 mm TL. The proliferation of superficial neuromasts varied depending …