Abstract
1. 1. The spectral sensitivity of adult and juvenile (aged 1 day to 16 weeks) crayfish was studied using the ERG as parameter. 2. 2. In the adult animals the spectral sensitivity during the states of dark and light adaptation was also studied. 3. 3. The very young crayfish show, proportionally, a great sensitivity to the shortwave lengths (u.v. blue). 4. 4. With age, the sensitivity to u.v. decreases being minimum at the adult stage. 5. 5. The response to longer wavelengths (green and red) appears in the late stages of development, it increases progressively, particularly to green, and reaches its maximum at the adult stage. 6. 6. These findings are interpreted as the result of an asymmetric development of two types of visual cell population; one responsible for the shortwave lengths' sensitivity, and the other, related with the response to the longer wavelengths. 7. 7. Spectral sensitivity is affected also by the light and dark adaptation states. Only during the dark-adapting state does the adult animal respond to u.V.; whereas during the light-adapting state, a change to red occurs (red shift). 8. 8. We discuss the possible involvement of the dioptric system and of the accessory retinular pigments in the observed changes.
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