Abstract:

In order to investigate the structure and function of the light-sensitive organs of crustaceans. The histomorphology of compound eyes in Charybdis japonica was studied by paraffin biopsy technology. The results showed that the eyes of C. japonica were hemispherical with no ommatidia on their back. The ommatidia were hexagon. The sensitization system of an ommatidium was made of 4 to 6 distal retinular cells and 8 proximal retinular cells. The observation was different from the reports on other kinds of crustaceans, such as Portunus tritubereulatus, Eriocheir sinensis, Macrobrachium nipponense, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and so on. It indicated that there were differences in dependence of the species on the visual sense.