CEPHALOPOD SENSE-ORGANS, NERVES AND THE BRAIN - ADAPTATIONS FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE AND LIFE-STYLE

The morphological and physiological adaptations that the cephalopod se nsory organs and nervous system underwent during the course of evoluti on are briefly summarized. Special emphasis is paid (i) to the vertebr ate-like lens eyes with their complex extraocular eye muscle system, ( ii) to the vestibular analogue statocysts with hair cell receptor syst ems for linear and angular accelerations and an elaborate afferent and efferent nerve supply, (iii) to the epidermal head and arm lines whic h are analogous to, and as sensitive as, the lateral lines of fishes a nd aquatic amphibians, (iv) to the giant fibre system for escape jetti ng, and (v) to the highly centralized brain which is capable of differ ent forms of learning and memory.