Odontodactylus cultrifer polarization

[Gonodactylus]

Odontodactylus cultrifer, a close relative of the O. scyllarus (peacock), has probably the most extreme polarized signals I have seen in any stomatopod. Here are to shots of a mature male about 12 cm long. One is taken with a vertically oriented polarizing filter, the other with a horizontally oriented filter. You can see the red polarized patches move. Given that the eyes of Odontodactylus can distinguish at least three different e-vectors, they must be very sensitive to these signals.

Roy

 

[Crawling68]

I have to get some polarizing filters.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Polaroid sunglasses work pretty well.

Roy

 

[Timmy]

Wow, unbelievable!
Great pics.

 

[fischcrazy]

what is polarization?

 

[Gonodactylus]

A vertical linerar polarizing filter transmits red vertically polarized ligth being reflected from pigments in the animals cuticle. When the filter is turned 90 degrees to horizontal, this signal is blocked and the same cuticle appears whitish. You and I can only see this effect it we use a polarizing filter, but stomatopods have at least three different kinds o polarizing filters built into their eyes, so they see this color change as the animal changes position or they move their eyes.

Roy

 

[srude]

How is it that this animal appears to be the most specialized creature in the sea. It's gotta be interesting to know what you do, Dr. Ron.

 

[venwu225]

lots of other animals are even more specialized, people just don't know about them. Read more material on PubMed if you wanna be informed

 

[psychodave]

- Dr. Roy -

This is the Mantis you picked up from Crawling68, correct? Its a beautiful animal!

If it is, im just curious...have you seen them in the wild? It seamed from the origional thread that it was prety important that you got it.