SPECTRAL SENSITIVITY, PHOTOPIGMENTS, AND COLOR-VISION IN THE GUINEA-PIG (CAVIA-PORCELLUS)

Behavioral discrimination tests and electroretinogram (ERG) flicker ph otometry were used to measure spectral sensitivity and to define the s pectral mechanisms of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). Results from t hese 2 approaches converge to indicate that guinea pig retinas contain rods with peak sensitivity of about 494 nm and 2 classes of cone havi ng peak sensitivities of about 429 nm and 529 nm. The presence of 2 cl asses of cones suggests a retinal basis for a color vision capacity. B ehavioral tests of color vision were conducted that verified this pred iction: Guinea pigs have dichromatic color vision with a spectral neut ral point centered at about 480 nm. The cone pigment complement of the guinea pig is different from that known to characterize other rodents .