ULTRASTRUCTURE OF A CEPHALOPOD PHOTOPHORE. II. IRIDOPHORES AS REFLECTORS AND TRANSMITTERS.

The iridophores of one type of photophore of the deep sea squid, Pterygioteuthis microlampas were examined with the electron microscope and four different types were found. Three of these types have not been previously described. The regular iridophores of the posterior cup appear to be one-fourth wave length reflectors and redirect the light produced by the photogenic tissue outward. The regular iridophores of the anterior cap have a different spacing and platelet thickness so they apparently pass blue light. The irregular iridophores form a cone around the photogenic tissue and probably randomly reflect light back into the photogenic tissue. The iridophores of the lens have many precisely aligned iridosomes with platelet spacing and thickness so that they appear to collimate light passing through them. It appears that these three types of iridophores reflect, transmit and collimate the light produced in the photophore to match the background illumination hence making an efficient countershading mechanism. A fourth type of iridophore, the wide spaced iridophore, is rarely encountered and probably does not have a significant role in light attenuation in the photophore.