Morphological characteristics of visual organs in the killer whale <i>Orcinus orca</i>
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- Funasaka Noriko
- Laboratory of Fish Culture, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University
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- Yoshioka Motoi
- Laboratory of Fish Culture, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University
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- Kakizoe Yuka
- Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Minato
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- Kanda Koji
- Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Minato
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- Shirouzu Hiroshi
- Taiji Whale Museum
Bibliographic Information
- Other Title
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- シャチにおける視覚器の形態学的特徴
- シャチ ニ オケル シカクキ ノ ケイタイガクテキ トクチョウ
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Abstract
The eyeball and Harderian gland of the killer whale Orcinus orca were investigated at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The eyeball was covered with multiple ocular muscles, and consist of three layers including the fibrous tunic of the eye (cornea and sclera), vascular tunic of the eye (ciliary body, iris and choroid), and internal tunic of the eye (retina). The rods in the outer nuclear layer of the retina were present in much larger numbers than cones, and the structure of the retina was similar to that of nocturnal animals. A comparison of the size of the eyeball of the killer whale with other cetacean species in previous works revealed a similar morphology with the delphinid species. The Harderian gland encircled the eyeball similar to a belt form on mainly the corneal side, and the multiple secretory ducts of the gland opened into the conjunctival fornix and palpebral conjunctiva. Histochemically, the secretions were mainly glycosaminoglycans and contained no lipids. These results indicated that the eyes of the killer whale have as efficient light-gathering and eye protection functions as known in other cetacean species.<br>
Journal
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- Honyurui Kagaku (Mammalian Science)
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Honyurui Kagaku (Mammalian Science) 51 (2), 305-310, 2011
The Mammal Society of Japan
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Details 詳細情報について
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- CRID
- 1390001204723655040
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- NII Article ID
- 10030473328
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- NII Book ID
- AN00231656
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- ISSN
- 1881526X
- 0385437X
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- NDL BIB ID
- 023426050
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- Text Lang
- ja
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- Data Source
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- JaLC
- NDL
- CiNii Articles
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- Abstract License Flag
- Disallowed