Behavioral and genetic color vision evaluation of an albino male capuchin monkey (Sapajusapella)

Author(s)

Henriques, Leonardo Dutra ^[1] ; Oliveira, J. C. P. ^[2] ; Bonci, D. M. O. ^[1] ; Leao, R. C. ^{[3, 4]} ; Souza, G. S. ^{[3, 4]} ; Silveira, L. C. L. ^{[3, 4]} ; Galvao, O. F. ^[2] ; Goulart, P. R. K. ^[2] ; Ventura, D. F. ^{[1, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psicol, Dept Psicol Expt, Ave Prof Mello Moraes 1721, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Para, Nucleo Teoria & Pesquisa Comportamento, Belem, Para - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Para, Inst Ciencias Biol, Belem, Para - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Para, Nucleo Med Trop, Belem, Para - Brazil

^[5] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Inst Ensino & Pesquisa, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVI; v. 205, n. 4, p. 529-536, AUG 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Albinism is a rare phenotype that affects the pigmentation in eyes, hair, and skin. The effects of albinism in color vision are still unclear. Our study aimed to evaluate the color vision phenotype and genotype of an albino capuchin monkey. An adult albino male capuchin monkey (Sapajusapella) had the L and M opsin gene analyzed, and was trained in a behavioral task of color discrimination. Color discrimination thresholds were determined along 20 chromatic axes around the background chromaticity. A color discrimination ellipse was drawn by interpolation among these thresholds. The albino monkey's behavioral color discrimination ellipse showed poor discrimination along the red-green axis indicating a deutan phenotype. Genetic analysis revealed only the presence of the L gene in the albino monkey. This result did not differ from that obtained with ten previously tested non-albino monkeys. Behavioral and molecular analyses agreed that the albino capuchin monkey had color vision similar to that of non-albino dichromat monkeys, suggesting no influence of albinism on color discrimination. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/57705-8 - Institute for the Study of Behavior, Cognition and Teaching
• Grantee: Deisy das Graças de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/05059-8 - Application of a computerized procedure adapted for the evaluation of color vison in the Howler Monkey (Alouatta sp.)
• Grantee: Leonardo Dutra Henriques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 14/26818-2 - Development and implementation of visual evaluation methods: clinical applications and animal models
• Grantee: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants