The human eye has three dissimilar types of cone cells , known as photoreceptors , that allow us to see meg of different colors . animal have varying number of these receptor , which grant some species , such as insects , to see wavelength of Inner Light inconspicuous to us . To date , the largest turn of different photoreceptors ever found in an insect ’s eye was nine , which is impressive enough . But researchers from Japan have just report thatthey’ve discovereda coinage of butterfly stroke that has at least 15 different character .
This allows the butterfly to see not just the wavelength , and therefore colour , we can see , but also ultraviolet and polarized light . But while you might reckon this would mean that the butterflies are able to see shades of color inconceivable to us , the researchers do n’t in reality think that it work out that way . Rather , the extra photoreceptors allow them to find very specific stimuli in the environment .
These butterflies have the highest turn of photoreceptor types have intercourse for any dirt ball . Kazuo Unno
The study , published inFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution , examined the ocular system of the common bluebottle ( Graphium sarpedon ) , a butterfly native to Australasia and know for its blue - unripened iridescent wings . The researcherswere interestedin how unlike photoreceptors acquire , as the ancestors to all insects are only believe to have three .
Looking at the bluebottle , they found 15 different types of photoreceptors , with diverge wavelength stimulate different sensory receptor . One was found to be responsive to ultraviolet illumination , another to violet , three to different wavelengths of bluing , one to patrician - green , four to green , and five to violent Inner Light . Yet the researchers think that the louse only expend four of these receptors for casual color vision , which raises the question of the need for the other 11 . The additional receptors are thought to help the butterflies see other stimulant , such as fast - flying cuss butterfly against the sky ( due to their ability to spot small variation in the blue - immature spectrum ) , or colourful physical object obscure in botany .
The mantis shrimp currently halt the record , with 16 differentphotoreceptortypes , but this does n’t stand for it sees more colours . Richard Witcombe / Shutterstock
The discovery that the common blueblottle has 15 sensory receptor almost puts it on equivalence with the species that currently holds the book – the coral - dwelling mantis prawn , which has an impressive 16 different photoreceptors in their heart . But again , astudylooking into the power of mantid peewee to distinguish between different colour found that the crustacean was n’t as good at the job as was previously expected , and that the estimate the shrimp had some variety of “ tiptop color vision " was incorrect .
“ Butterflies may have a slightly down in the mouth ocular acuity than ourselves , but in many respect they bask a clear advantage over us : they have a very large optical field , a superior ability to pursue tight - moving target and can even distinguish ultraviolet and polarise light,”saysKentaro Arikawa , the lead author of the study . “ Is n’t it fascinating to think how these butterfly see their humans ? ”
