As a consequence of its optical ecology, its eye views into air and water simultaneously. We are currently studying two specific behaviors, feeding and the shadow reflex, and relating them to its brain organization and the visual electrophysiology of cells at different loci of its visual pathway. Interestingly, it is found in Anableps anableps , another and unrelated species that simultaneously sees in air and water. The eye of Pantodon is unusual because its visual field is closely reflected in eye and retinal structure. The fundus of the eye is bisected by a modified falciform process that extends from the nasal pole almost to the temporal pole.
Blood vessels emerge perpendicular to the falciform process to run on the surface of the retina.
A small region of continuity extends from ventrotemporal retina to dorsotemporal retina at the temporal pole of the ora serrata. The embryonic fissure extends from the nasal pole to the optic disc. I am currently studying the non-symmetrical postembryonic addition of cells in the retina as a probe to understand the morphological pressures that might account for the extension of the falciform process into the temporal hemiretina. The visual field is tripartite. The ventral hemiretina views into the air.