Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40038358›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Trichromacy and ultraviolet vision in a nocturnal marsupial.

Leah M Nielsen, Harald Beck, Christopher Oufiero, Robert J Johnston, Jesse S Handler, Joanna F D Hagen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Leah M NielsenDepartment of Biology, Towson University, Baltimore, MD, 21252, USA.
Harald BeckDepartment of Biology, Towson University, Baltimore, MD, 21252, USA. hbeck@towson.edu.
Christopher OufieroDepartment of Biology, Towson University, Baltimore, MD, 21252, USA.
Robert J JohnstonJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
Jesse S HandlerThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Joanna F D HagenJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.

Funding

Cone subtype specification in human retinas and organoidsR01EY030872 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI JOHNSTON, ROBERT JOHN · 2020 to 2023
$2.1M
NEI NIH HHS R01 EY030872
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Color vision among mammals is diverse and complex, with many physiological and genetic factors affecting spectral sensitivity, the ability to perceive different wavelengths of light. In this study, the color vision of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps), a nocturnal, gliding mammal, was examined through a series of behavioral tests, genetic analyses, and immunohistochemistry. This is the first study to classify the color vision capabilities of this species. Sugar gliders demonstrated trichromacy and ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity, the latter of which was further supported by genetic analysis. Visualization of the sugar glider retina exhibited a rod-dominant retina that expresses rhodopsin, short-wavelength sensitive 1 opsin, and long/medium-wavelength sensitive opsin. Diurnal primates were thought to be the only mammals able to visualize trichromatically, however the results of this examination and evidence from a few other marsupial studies provide support for nocturnal trichromacy in Metatheria. Intriguingly, the genetic basis for the medium-wavelength sensitivity in marsupials has yet to be discovered. Our results are evidence of a fourth Australian marsupial that is UV-trichromatic, supporting complex spectral sensitivity and UV vision as benefits to survival in nocturnal environments. Given that Rh1 sensitivity at 501 nm explains the green sensitivity behaviorally, question arises how many other nocturnal 'dichromatic' species use rods for trichromatic vision in mesopic light.

Indexed as

Color VisionMarsupialiaUltraviolet RaysAnimalsOpsinsRetinaRhodopsinRod OpsinsOpsinsRhodopsinRod OpsinsColorMammalMarsupialTrichromaticUltravioletVision

Identifiers

PMID40038358
PMCPMC11880520

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.