Spectral sensitivities of five marine decapod crustaceans and a review of spectral sensitivity variation in relation to habitat

Abstract

The spectral sensitivities of five species of decapod crustaceans have been determined by electroretinogram measurements. Their spectral sensitivities conform to the general picture for marine crustacea with high sensitivity to blue-green wavelengths and some showing sensitivity to violet/near ultraviolet. Two deep-water species (Paromola cuvieri and Chaceon (Geryon) affinis) have spectral sensitivity maxima below 500 nm, whereas the three coastal species examined (Crangonallmani, Pandalus montagui and Nephrops norvegicus) are maximally sensitive to light of longer wavelengths (510 to 525 nm).