Three fox retinas
Date
ca.1901
Creator
A. W. Head (British) , Draughtsman
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (card support): 185mm
width (card support): 220mm
width (card support): 220mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Anatomical study of three retinas as seen through an ophthalmoscope. The retinas belong to three eutherian mammals from the Canidae family, a common fox Vulpes vulpes [listed here as Canis vulpes], an arctic fox Vulpes lagopus [listed here as Canis lagopus] and a fennec fox Vulpes zerda [listed here as Canes cerdo].
In each specimen, the fundus [interior surface] is depicted as containing three zones: a peripheral zone of reddish brown, bordered by a narrow purple- blue zone, a green intermediate zone and a central zone of bright golden yellow.
The fundi are covered with small dots and patches, and the retinal vessels tend upwards before spreading out. The optic disc varies in shape throughout each specimen.
George Lindsay Johnson described these specimens as follows: ‘The Common Fox (Canis vulpes), AZARA’S FOX (C. Azarae), and the Fennec Fox (Canes cerdo) are also very similar, except that the shape of the disc varies somewhat. The Arctic Fox (C. lagopus), to my great surprise, showed no appreciable difference from other foxes. I examined him both with his brown summer coat and in his white winter coat, but the appearance of the eye remained the same.’
Created for inclusion in George Lindsay Johnson's paper ‘Contributions to the comparative anatomy of the mammalian eye, chiefly based on ophthalmoscopic examination’ published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Volume 194 (1901). However, though discussed within the paper, none are included as plates in the final publication.
They appear instead in the posthumously published Philosophical Transactions paper 'Ophthalmoscopic studies of the eyes of mammals', as figures 26 [common], 27 [arctic] and 28 [fennec], p.30-31. This paper was communicated to the Society by David Whitteridge and collates Johnson's plates in a manner not done prior to his death.
George Lindsay Johnson (1853-1943) British ophthalmologist carried out extensive research in optics, and is best known for his work on mammalian eyes. He was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
In each specimen, the fundus [interior surface] is depicted as containing three zones: a peripheral zone of reddish brown, bordered by a narrow purple- blue zone, a green intermediate zone and a central zone of bright golden yellow.
The fundi are covered with small dots and patches, and the retinal vessels tend upwards before spreading out. The optic disc varies in shape throughout each specimen.
George Lindsay Johnson described these specimens as follows: ‘The Common Fox (Canis vulpes), AZARA’S FOX (C. Azarae), and the Fennec Fox (Canes cerdo) are also very similar, except that the shape of the disc varies somewhat. The Arctic Fox (C. lagopus), to my great surprise, showed no appreciable difference from other foxes. I examined him both with his brown summer coat and in his white winter coat, but the appearance of the eye remained the same.’
Created for inclusion in George Lindsay Johnson's paper ‘Contributions to the comparative anatomy of the mammalian eye, chiefly based on ophthalmoscopic examination’ published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Volume 194 (1901). However, though discussed within the paper, none are included as plates in the final publication.
They appear instead in the posthumously published Philosophical Transactions paper 'Ophthalmoscopic studies of the eyes of mammals', as figures 26 [common], 27 [arctic] and 28 [fennec], p.30-31. This paper was communicated to the Society by David Whitteridge and collates Johnson's plates in a manner not done prior to his death.
George Lindsay Johnson (1853-1943) British ophthalmologist carried out extensive research in optics, and is best known for his work on mammalian eyes. He was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Related fellows
George Lindsay Johnson (1853 - 1943, British) , Ophthalmologist
Associated place