| Autor: |
Henriques LD; Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. leonardodhenriques@gmail.com., Hauzman E; Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.; Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil., Bonci DMO; Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil., Chang BSW; Department of Cell and System Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada., Muniz JAPC; Centro Nacional de Primatas, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ministério da Saúde, Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil., da Silva Souza G; Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil., de Lima Silveira LC; Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil., de Faria Galvão O; Núcleo de Teoria e Pesquisa do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil., Goulart PRK; Núcleo de Teoria e Pesquisa do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil., Ventura DF; Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.; Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Primate colour vision depends on a matrix of photoreceptors, a neuronal post receptoral structure and a combination of genes that culminate in different sensitivity through the visual spectrum. Along with a common cone opsin gene for short wavelengths (sws1), Neotropical primates (Platyrrhini) have only one cone opsin gene for medium-long wavelengths (mws/lws) per X chromosome while Paleotropical primates (Catarrhini), including humans, have two active genes. Therefore, while female platyrrhines may be trichromats, males are always dichromats. The genus Alouatta is inferred to be an exception to this rule, as electrophysiological, behavioural and molecular analyses indicated a potential for male trichromacy in this genus. However, it is very important to ascertain by a combination of genetic and behavioural analyses whether this potential translates in terms of colour discrimination capability. We evaluated two howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.), one male A. caraya and one female A. seniculus, using a combination of genetic analysis of the opsin gene sequences and a behavioral colour discrimination test not previously used in this genus. Both individuals completed the behavioural test with performances typical of trichromatic colour vision and the genetic analysis of the sws1, mws, and lws opsin genes revealed three different opsin sequences in both subjects. These results are consistent with uniform trichromacy in both male and female, with presumed spectral sensitivity peaks similar to Catarrhini, at ~ 430 nm, 532 nm, and 563 nm for S-, M- and L-cones, respectively. |
