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Light-sensitive proteins below colour-changing cells mean fish can ‘take
a photo of their own skin from the inside’
What do you call a fish with no eyes? What about a fish that can also
use its skin as “eyes”? Well, that would be definetely a hogfish.
Hogfish often use their interesting ability to change colours to support
their camouflaging abilities. They also have light-sensing skin, or skin
vision, that can help them see their surroundings.
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However, research suggests hogfish are not only using this skin vision
to see their surroundings. Lorian Schweikert, a biologist at the
University of North Carolina Wilmington, said they “could be using it to
view themselves”.
To study this behaviour the team took samples of the hogfish’s skin and
analysed them under a microscope. This up-close look showed many cells
called chromatophores, which contain granules of colours.
Writing in Nature Communications, the research reports the cellular
mechanism in chromatophore pigment activity and how the hogfish uses
this ability. |