THE VISUAL ACUITY OF THE FIDDLER-CRAB, UCA PUGNAX

Abstract

The visual acuity of the fiddler-crab can be measured at various illuminations by means of its response to a moving visual pattern. The method, although similar to that used by Hecht and Wolf for the bee and Hecht and Wald for Drosophila, must be modified to give consistent results. An explanation of the response to a visual pattern is given in terms of the structure of the eye. Visual acuity of the crab varies with log I as in man, the bee, and Drosophila. Hecht and Wolf's explanation of the varying visual acuity with illumination in terms of the distribution of functional ommatidia in the eye is supported to that extent. In the fiddler-crab as in man, monocular and binocular visual acuity is similar with a maximum of 0.0042 for the fiddler-crab. This agrees fairly well with visual acuities of 0.0041, 0.0038, and 0.0032 as found in the field. In man and the bee, the minimum visual angle corresponds to the minimum angle of two adjacent receptors; in Drosophila and the fiddler-crab the minimum visual angle corresponds to approximately twice the minimum angle between two adjacent receptors.