{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T12:05:20Z","timestamp":1787313920301,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":108,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,13]],"date-time":"2023-12-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1702425600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Morphology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    The Australian lungfish,\n                    <jats:italic>Neoceratodus forsteri<\/jats:italic>\n                    (Krefft 1870), is the sole extant member of the Ceratodontidae within the Dipnoi, a small order of sarcopterygian (lobe\u2010finned) fishes, that is thought to be the earliest branching species of extant lungfishes, having changed little over the last 100 million years. To extend studies on anatomical adaptations associated with the fish\u2013tetrapod transition, the ultrastructure of the cornea and iris is investigated using light and electron (transmission and scanning) microscopy to investigate structure\u2013function relationships and compare these to other vertebrate corneas (other fishes and tetrapods). In contrast to previous studies, the cornea is found to have only three main components, comprising an epithelium with its basement membrane, a stroma with a Bowman's layer and an endothelium, and is not split into a dermal (secondary) spectacle and a scleral cornea. The epithelial cells are large, relatively low in density and similar to many species of non\u2010aquatic tetrapods and uniquely possess numerous surface canals that contain and release mucous granules onto the corneal surface to avoid desiccation. A Bowman's layer is present and, in association with extensive branching and anastomosing of the collagen fibrils, may be an adaptation for the inhibition of swelling and\/or splitting of the stroma during its amphibious lifestyle. The dorsal region of the stroma possesses aggregations of pigment granules that act as a yellow, short wavelength\u2010absorbing filter during bright light conditions. Des\u00e7emet's membrane is absent and replaced by an incomplete basement membrane overlying a monocellular endothelium. The iris is pigmented, well\u2010developed, vascularised and contractile containing reflective crystals anteriorly. Based upon its ultrastructure and functional adaptations, the cornea of\n                    <jats:italic>N. forsteri<\/jats:italic>\n                    is more similar to amphibians than to other bony fishes and is well\u2010adapted for an amphibious lifestyle.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/jmor.21662","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,13]],"date-time":"2023-12-13T05:42:27Z","timestamp":1702446147000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Morphology of the cornea and iris in the Australian lungfish\n                    <i>Neoceratodus forsteri<\/i>\n                    (Krefft 1870) (Dipnoi): Functional and evolutionary perspectives of transitioning from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"285","author":[{"given":"Hermann","family":"Barry Collin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of New South Wales Kensington New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julian","family":"Ratcliffe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bioimaging Platform La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6236-0771","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shaun P.","family":"Collin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment La Trobe University  Bundoora Victoria Australia"},{"name":"Oceans Graduate School and Oceans Institute The University of Western Australia  Crawley Western Australia Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S1431927616011466"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/686914"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1139\/z73-140"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fevo.2016.00078"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2148-7-200"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/cne.20809"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0952523806232103"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0952523807070381"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1463-6395.1993.tb01217.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1097-0029(19960301)33:4<320::AID-JEMT3>3.0.CO;2-T"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brinkmann H. 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