A Deep Phylogenetic Split Between Short- and Long-Wavelength-Tuned Visual Systems in Surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae)

A deep phylogenetic split (~42 mya) in visual opsin gene expression separates Nasinae and Acanthurinae surgeonfishes, with Nasinae showing a shorter-shifted palette.

• Why it matters: Coral reef light varies continuously, yet it is unclear how common colour-vision plasticity is and whether ecology or phylogeny shapes it in coral reef fishes.
• What they did: Using comparative transcriptomics across 22 Acanthuridae species, the study tested opsin gene expression changes across development and seasonal light shifts.
• The result: Opsin expression showed little seasonal or ontogenetic variation and remained similar across broad feeding groups, implying present-day tuning is largely constrained by phylogenetic inertia.

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