Background: This work was designed to provide a morphologic, morphometric and histochemical description of the eye of the African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum). An explanation of the optical role of the choroidal papillae in the vision of megachiropteran bats was provided.
Materials and methods: Enucleated eyes of captured fruit bats were measured and processed for light microscopy.
Results: Typical gross features of the mammalian eye including an anterior transparent cornea, posterior whitish sclera and a golden-brown iris surrounding a round pupil were observed in the eye. Presence of undulating retina typically found in megachiropterans was also seen. The ratio of mean corneal diameter to mean axial eye diameter was 0.58 ± 0.08. The histochemical investigation of the eye indicated the presence of mucins, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, glycogen and/or glycoproteins in the corneal, scleral, choroidal and retinal tissues.
Conclusions: The presence of reflective materials of the tapetum lucidum on the undulating retina was shown to be a morphological adaptation for increased light sensitivity as each parabolic surface of the choroidal papillae served as a convex mirror, reflecting the light rays to the adjacent parabolic surface, thus sensitising photoreceptors in affected regions. This phenomenon thus empowers megachiropteran bats with improved scotopic visual capability and could explain why most of them are reliant on their vison without the need for echolocation.
Keywords: Eidolon helvum; choroidal papillae; eye; megachiroptera; retina.