Matched Filtering in African Weakly Electric Fish: Two Senses with Complementary Filters

Publication Type:Book Chapter
Year of Publication:2016
Auteurs:von der Emde, G., Ruhl T.
Éditeur:von der Emde, G., Warrant E.
Book Title:The Ecology of Animal Senses
Number of Volumes:1
Pagination:237 - 263
Publisher:Springer International Publishing
City:Cham
ISBN Number:978-3-319-25490-6
Résumé:

African weakly electric fish live nocturnally in tropical freshwater streams. To sense their surroundings, they have developed a highly specialized system of two senses, which allows them to perceive nearby objects at high precision with an active electric sense and to detect large, fast-moving objects with their visual sense at greater distances. Both senses are highly specialized and are equipped with matched filters for efficient detection and analysis of relevant object features and for neglecting unimportant items. Active electrolocation in the near field involves the production of an electric signal, which serves as a carrier for sensory information. This signal and the resulting electric field around the fish are shaped by the fish’s body and its internal structure. The electric skin properties and the accessory structures of the electroreceptor organs further filter
the signal and form two electroreceptive foveae. In contrast, the visual system is adapted for detecting large objects at longer distances. A grouped retina forms a visual matched filter, which filters out small, nearby objects but efficiently detects fast-moving distant objects even under noisy and dim light conditions.

URL:http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-25492-0
DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-25492-010.1007/978-3-319-25492-0_9
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith