What specific light frequency has the whale shark's rhodopsin pigment been found to be unusually sensitive to in the deep ocean environment?
Answer
Blue light
A key physiological adaptation contributing to the whale shark's success as a pelagic species is found within its visual system. Scientists have determined that the rhodopsin, which is the light-sensing pigment responsible for vision, exhibits an unusual sensitivity specifically to blue light. Blue light is the dominant wavelength that permeates the vastness of the deep ocean environment where the whale shark often ranges vertically. This specific adaptation allows the shark to maintain effective sight across its enormous vertical swimming range, facilitating movements from the surface down into deeper waters and back up again, differentiating it from species less adapted to these light conditions.
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