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Retinal projections in the caecilian Ichthyophis kohtaoensis (Amphibia, Gymnophiona)

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Summary

The retinal projections of the caecilian Ichthyophis kohtaoensis were investigated by anterograde transport of HRP. The optic tract forms two bundles in the diencephalon, a narrow medial bundle in the optic tectum, and a basal optic tract consisting of few fibres. Terminal fields are in the thalamus, pretectum, tectum, and as a circum-scribed basal optic neuropile in the tegmentum. Thalamic, pretectal and tectal projections are contralateral as well as ipsilateral. The reduced but existing visual projection corresponds to a reduced but existing visually guided behaviour.

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Himstedt, W., Manteuffel, G. Retinal projections in the caecilian Ichthyophis kohtaoensis (Amphibia, Gymnophiona). Cell Tissue Res. 239, 689–692 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219250

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