Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

A novel eye in 'eyeless' shrimp from hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract

Rimicaris exoculata1 is a shrimp that swarms over high-temperature (350 °C) sulphide chimneys at Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal fields (3,600 m)1–7. This shrimp lacks an externally differentiated eye1, having instead a pair of large organs within the cephalothorax immediately beneath the dorsal surface of the transparent carapace, connected by large nerve tracts to the supraesophageal ganglion. These organs contain a visual pigment with an absorption spectrum characteristic of rhodopsin. Ultra-structural evidence for degraded rhabdomeral material suggests the presence of photoreceptors. No image-forming optics are associated with the organs. We interpret these organs as being eyes adapted for detection of low-level illumination and suggest that they evolved in response to a source of radiation associated with the environment of hydrothermal vents.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Williams, A. B. & Rona, P. A. J. Crust. Biol. 6, 446–462 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rona, P. A. EOS Trans. Am. geophys. Un. 66, 936 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rona, P. A., Klinkhammer, G., Nelson, T. A., Trefry, J. H. & Elderfield, H. Nature 321, 33–37 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Grassle, J. F., Humphris, S. E., Rona, P. A., Thompson, G. & Van Dover, C. L. EOS Trans. Am. geophys. Un. 67, 1022 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Detrick, R. S. et al. Nature 321, 14–15 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Detrick, R. S. et al Geology 14, 1004–1007 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Van Dover, C. L., Fry, B., Grassle, J. F., Humphris, S. E. & Rona, P. A. Mar. Biol. 98, 209–216 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bullock, T. H. & Horridge, G. A. Structure and Function in the Nervous Systems of Invertebrates (San Francisco, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Loew, E. R. Proc. R. Soc. 193, 31–44 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Meyer Rochow, V. B. Proc. R. Soc. 212, 93–111 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nilsson, H. L. & Lindstrom, M. J. exp. Biol. 107, 277–292 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chamberlain, S. C., Meyer-Rochow, V. B. & Dossert, W. P. J. Morph. 189, 145–156 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. White, R. H. J. exp. Zool. 169, 261–278 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Blest, A. D. Proc. R. Soc. 200, 463–483 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chamberlain, S. C. & Barlow, R. B. Jr. Science 206, 361–363 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nassel, D. R. & Waterman, T. H. J. comp Physiol 131, 205–216 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hubbard, R., Brown, P. K. & Bownds, D. Meth. Enzym. 18, 615–653 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Denys, C. J. & Brown, P. K. J. gen. Physiol. 82, 451–472 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wald, G. Nature 215, 1131–1133 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hubbard, R. & Wald, G. Nature 186, 212–215 (1960).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hiller Adams, P., Widder, E. A. & Case, J. F. J. comp. Physiol. 163, 63–72 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Frank, T. M. & Case, J. F. Biol. Bull. 175, 261–273 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bradner, H. et al. Deep Sea Res. 34, 1831–1840 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pelli, D. & Chamberlain, S. C. Nature 337, 460–461 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Van Dover, C. L., Delaney, J., Smith, M., Cann, J. R. & Foster, D. Nature (submitted).

  26. DiPolo, R. J. gen. Physiol. 62, 575–589 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hara, T. & Hara, R. In Handbook of Sensory Physiology Vol. VII/1. (ed Dartnall, H. J. A. ) 720–746 (Springer, Berlin and New York, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dover, C., Szuts, E., Chamberlain, S. et al. A novel eye in 'eyeless' shrimp from hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Nature 337, 458–460 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/337458a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/337458a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing