Bioluminescent Animals Photo Gallery
Bioluminescence is one of the more captivating adaptations that have evolved in marine animals. It's the ability of organisms to create and emit light. Dive underwater and you may witness lightshows of red, green, and blue. Chemical reactions release energy that produces the light. Many species use it to communicate; some use it to lure their next meal; and others emit light to ward off predators. According to NOAA, scientists estimate that bioluminescence exists in 90 percent of the animals living in the open ocean, in waters below 500 m (1,640 ft). It's a trait that has evolved in a variety of organisms -- a small fraction of which are in this slideshow.
Bioluminescence has inspired scientists and artists alike. Watch a video of researchers sharing stories of their encounters with bioluminescent animals and learn about the luminous art of Shih Chieh Huang.
Bioluminescent Octopod
Bioluminescent Octopod:
Lanternfish
Lanternfish :
This lanternfish (Diaphus sp.), found in the Red Sea, has light-producing photophores along its ventral surface (belly), and a nasal light organ that acts like a headlight.
E. Widder, ORCA, www.teamorca.org
Midwater Squid, Abralia veranyi
Midwater Squid, Abralia veranyi:
Glowing photophores are visible on a squid (Abralia veranyi) viewed from below at low light levels. We think of light as a way to see in the dark. But many species use it to help them hide. This adaptation is called counterillumination. Seen from below, an animal might stand out as a dark shape against the brighter water above. By glowing on its underside, it can blend in.
E. Widder, ORCA, www.teamorca.org
Bioluminescing Dinoflagellate
Bioluminescing Dinoflagellate:
Sunset? Time to glow! A biological clock triggers bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis. At dusk, cells produce the chemicals responsible for its light.
E. Widder, ORCA, www.teamorca.org
Atolla Jellyfish from the Waters of Japan
Atolla Jellyfish from the Waters of Japan:
Scaly Dragonfish
Scaly Dragonfish :
Fish Using Counterillumination
Fish Using Counterillumination:
Cockatoo Squid
Cockatoo Squid:
This transparent cockatoo squid, or glass squid, retains liquids, giving it a balloon-like shape and helping it float.
Midwater Sea Jelly
Midwater Sea Jelly:
The midwater scyphomedusa Atolla tenella, as seen under a microscope.
Jellyfish, or Siphonophore Colony?
Jellyfish, or Siphonophore Colony?:
This colony of Rosacea may look like a single jellyfish, but it is actually a large group of smaller siphonophores clustered and living together.
Deep Sea Copepod
Deep Sea Copepod:
This copepod (Gaussia princeps) was collected deeper than 1000 meters in the Sargasso Sea by Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ) researchers in April 2006.
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Comments
You didnt help because there is no information about the fish/sqid/starfish
NO HELP AT ALL
There are some GREAT photos. Yet not that much information on the creatures shown.
Still I got some good information for my biology project.
I would have liked it if there would have been some more information on each organism. This didn't really help me that much due to the lack of information.
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/27/2013 - 8:44pm.Hi,
Sorry there isn't enough information. We're currently upgrading our site and hope to have more information about each animal when it's done and our slideshows are laid out better. Check back in about a month. Thanks for commenting and visiting.
Submitted by Ocean Portal Team on Thu, 03/28/2013 - 3:59pm.Fantastic images!
Regards,
Alen J.
thanks for all the help you really helped me on science homework i hope that you update your website so that i can get a little bit more information but keep up the good work
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 5:27pm.comment_wrapper_curve
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