Cone topography and spectral sensitivity in two potentially trichromatic marsupials, the quokka (Setonix brachyurus) and quenda (Isoodon obesulus)

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Vol. 272; no. 1565; pp. 791 - 796
• Main Authors: Arrese, Catherine A, Oddy, Alison Y, Runham, Philip B, Hart, Nathan S, Shand, Julia, Hunt, David M, Beazley, Lyn D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Royal Society 22.04.2005
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Animals; Base Sequence; Cluster Analysis; Color Perception - physiology; Cone Topography; DNA Primers; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Eye Proteins - genetics; Genetic Variation; Immunohistochemistry; Marsupial; Marsupialia - anatomy & histology; Marsupialia - physiology; Marsupials; Microspectrophotometry; Molecular Sequence Data; Opossums; Opsin; Opsins; Photoreceptors; Phylogeny; Pigments; Retina; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - cytology; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - physiology; Retinal pigments; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Spectral Sensitivity; Wallabies; Wavelengths

The potential for trichromacy in mammals, thought to be unique to primates, was recently discovered in two Australian marsupials. Whether the presence of three cone types, sensitive to short- (SWS), medium- (MWS) and long- (LWS) wavelengths, occurs across all marsupials remains unknown. Here, we hav...