Abstract
Developmental changes in the visual acuity of larval flatfish (plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., and turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.) were investigated behaviourally (using the optomotor response) and histologically. Results were similar for the two species, but different for the two methods. Histological acuities improved gradually from hatching onwards, while behavioural acuities showed a rapid improvement at the end of the yolk sac period, but this slowed down later. Histological acuities were initially better than the behavioural acuities; for first feeding larvae behavioural acuities were 6–7° in both species compared with histological acuities of 1° in plaice and 1°20' in turbot. This situation later changed and by mid-metamorphosis the behavioural acuities were better than the histological ones; for metamorphosed fish behavioural acuities were 11' in both species while histological acuities were 40' in plaice and 20' in turbot.
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