The spectral transmission of freshwater teleost ocular media--an interspecific comparison and a guide to potential ultraviolet sensitivity.

Based on their spectral transmission, the lenses of 50 teleost species can be classified into three categories: "type 1" colourless lenses with 50% transmission points between 315 and 354 nm, "type 2" lenses which also appear colourless but have 50% cut-off points around 362-405 nm, and "type 3" lenses which are visibly yellow (50% transmission 425-450 nm). Most corneas transmit all wavelengths down to around 300 nm, with only 3 species showing a distinct yellow colouration. This distribution of ocular media transmission is related both to the phylogenetic group of the fish and to their photic environment.