Why can elephantfish look in a dark place?

A recent study has found a solution to the possibility that elephantfish can "see" in dark water environments.

This fish lives in muddy areas in Central and West Africa, with an environment full of plants, mud and bubble air. A few years ago, people thought this fish was blind.

Whale fish can look good in u environment
dark because they have an unusual eye structure (Photo: Livescience)

However, through the study of this fish's retina under a microscope, scientists have found hundreds of cup-shaped and light-sensing cells. Thanks to the sensor cells that light can enter the eyes of this fish. In it the cone sensor cells can help the fish get the red light of the Sun. Because red is the only wavelength of light that can penetrate into the murky waters. Most of the light is blue and green from the sun, very much, only a few cm deep.

And cup-shaped proteins that form a flat layer that reflects mirror-like light help create a region of red light in an area 10 times larger than cones. Thanks to this structure, the fish is very sensitive to any kind of light. It then sends these signals to the brain for analysis.

The strange eye structure also helps the fish to have a more detailed view and look thanks to its ability to not be distracted by things around the environment such as air bubbles or sediments. Instead, cup-shaped proteins move large objects into dark areas. It is this large retinal advantage that helps fish eliminate what does not need to look out of sight.

The study is detailed in the June 29, 2012 issue of the journal Science.

Reference: Livescience