slideshow

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 animal, learn about the luminous art of Shih Chieh Huang, and find out more about bioluminescence.

Tags: Bioluminescence Jellyfish, Anemones & Relatives Squids & Octopuses Adaptations
Photograph of the underside of a gelatinous octopus with a bright yellow bioluminescent ring around her mouth.
Preview A photo of a lanternfish with its nasal light organ illuminated.
Preview A photo of a squid using bioluminescence to hide in the deep sea.
Preview A photograph of a bright blue-speckeled dinoflagellate bioluminescing at night.
Preview This deep-sea jellyfish was caught on film by an ROV east of Izu-Oshina Island, Japan.
Preview The long barbel on the chin of this dragonfish has a glowing tip that may attract prey.
Preview This fish is using counterillumination to disappear. At left it stands out against the light above it. At right, with bioluminescent structures lit, it blends in.
Preview Photograph of a transparent polka-dotted squid in the dark ocean.
Preview The midwater scyphomedusa Atolla tenella, as seen under a microscope.
Preview This colony of Rosacea may look like a single jellyfish, but it is actually a large group of smaller siphonophores clustered and living together.
Preview This copepod (Gaussia princeps) was collected deeper than 1000 meters in the Sargasso Sea by Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ) researchers in April 2006.
Preview The fluorescent shortnose greeneye fish.
Preview This jewel squid (Histioteuthis bonnellii) lives above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Preview A fringe of tentacles surrounds the bell of this jellyfish (Halicreas minimum).
Photograph of the underside of a gelatinous octopus with a bright yellow bioluminescent ring around her mouth.

Bioluminescent Octopod

Credit: Michael Vecchione/NOAA

The yellow bioluminescent ring on this female octopus (Bolitaena pygmaea) may attract mates. Bioluminescence is an important adaptation that helps many deep sea animals survive in their dark world. More about deep ocean exploration can be found in our Deep Ocean Exploration section.

A photo of a lanternfish with its nasal light organ illuminated.

Lanternfish

Credit: E. Widder, ORCA, www.teamorca.org

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. Hear scientists tell stories about encountering bioluminescent marine animals in the deep sea.

A photo of a squid using bioluminescence to hide in the deep sea.

Midwater Squid, Abralia veranyi

Credit: E. Widder, ORCA, www.teamorca.org

Glowing photophores are visible on this midwater 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. Watch a video of scientists describing their encounters with bioluminescent animals in the deep sea. 

A photograph of a bright blue-speckeled dinoflagellate bioluminescing at night.

Bioluminescing Dinoflagellate

Credit: E. Widder, ORCA, www.teamorca.org

Sunset? Time to glow! A biological clock triggers bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis. At dusk, cells produce the chemicals responsible for its light. Hear from marine scientists about what it's like to encounter bioluminescent animals in the deep sea. 

This deep-sea jellyfish was caught on film by an ROV east of Izu-Oshina Island, Japan.

Atolla Jellyfish from the Waters of Japan

Credit: JAMSTEC

The ROV Hyper Dolphin caught this deep-sea jelly (Atolla wyvillei) on film east of Izu-Oshina Island, Japan. When attacked, it uses bioluminescence to "scream" for help—an amazing light show known as a burglar alarm display. Visit the Encyclopedia of Life to learn more about these wild jellies.

The long barbel on the chin of this dragonfish has a glowing tip that may attract prey.

Scaly Dragonfish

Credit: © David Shale

The long barbel on the chin of this dragonfish (Stomias boa) has a glowing tip that may attract prey. With its large mouth and sharp, curved teeth, the fish makes quick work of any prey that venture too close. Scaly dragonfish live at depths of 200-1,500 meters (656-4,921 feet) and grow up to 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) long. More about deep ocean can be found in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.

This fish is using counterillumination to disappear. At left it stands out against the light above it. At right, with bioluminescent structures lit, it blends in.

Fish Using Counterillumination

Credit: Smithsonian Institution

The fish at left stands out against the lighter waters above. At right the same fish—now with bioluminescent structures on its underside lit—blends in. Many deep sea creatures have evolved this adaptation (known as counterillumination), which enables them to hide in an environment with few hiding places. More about deep ocean exploration can be found in the Deep Sea section.

Photograph of a transparent polka-dotted squid in the dark ocean.

Cockatoo Squid

Credit: Marsh Youngbluth/MAR-ECO, Census of Marine Life

This transparent cockatoo squid (Leachia sp.), also known as a glass squid, lives in the depths of the ocean and has many adaptations to help it survive there. It retains ammonia solutions inside its body that give it a balloon-like shape and help it float. It has large eyes and pigment-filled cells, or chromatophores, that look like polka dots and serve as camouflage.

See more pictures of bioluminescent animals that light up in the dark ocean water, and other organisms found in the deep ocean by the Census of Marine Life.

The midwater scyphomedusa Atolla tenella, as seen under a microscope.

Midwater Sea Jelly

Credit: R. Hopcroft, UAF.

Atolla tenella, a midwater scyphomedusa, as seen under a microscope. View the “Under Arctic Ice” photo essay to learn more.

This colony of <em>Rosacea</em> may look like a single jellyfish, but it is actually a large group of smaller siphonophores clustered and living together.

Jellyfish, or Siphonophore Colony?

Credit: L. Madin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (www.cmarz.org)

This colony of Rosacea may look like a single jellyfish, but it is actually a large group of smaller siphonophores clustered and living together. In fact, the zooids (individual siphonophores living in the colony) cannot survive on their own. This specimen was photographed by the Census of Marine Zooplankton, a project of the Census of Marine Life, in the Sargasso Sea in April 2006.

A Rosacea colony's long tentacles extend a meter away from the main body and contract when disturbed by potential food items. The bead-like dots are stinging cells (nematocysts) that immobilize and kill their prey.

See more photos of cool zooplankton collected by the researchers in this zooplankton biodiversity slideshow, and learn more about jellyfish, comb jellies and other gelatinous ocean animals.

This copepod (Gaussia princeps) was collected deeper than 1000 meters in the Sargasso Sea by Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ) researchers in April 2006.

Deep Sea Copepod

Credit: R. Hopcroft, University of Alaska - Fairbanks (www.cmarz.org)

This copepod (Gaussia princeps) was collected deeper than 1000 meters in the Sargasso Sea by Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ) researchers in April 2006, as part of the 10-year Census of Marine Life. However, specimens of this species have been collected in all the world's oceans at many depths: in the Caribbean, it has been found at depths as shallow as 25-50 meters!

G. princeps is a bioluminescent species, with both males and females producing blue light. Its light is bright enough that molecular biologists use the bioluminescent pigment as dye in the lab to help them visualize their experiments.

Reference: Suarez-Moralez, E. 2007. The mesopelagic copepod Gaussia princeps (Scott) (Calanoida: Metridinidae) from the Western Caribbean with notes on integumental pore patterns. Zootaxa 1621: 33–44. (PDF)

See more photos of cool zooplankton collected by the researchers in this zooplankton biodiversity slideshow.

The fluorescent shortnose greeneye fish.

A Shortnose Greeneye Fish Aglow

Credit: Image Courtesy Edie Widder

Under white light, this shortnose greeneye fish (Chlorophthalmus agassizi) looks unimpressive. But, in dim blue light—the type usually seen at depth—it shows its true fluorescent colors.

NOAA scientists collected this specimen during a 2004 expedition for optical studies. The scientists believe the green flourescence of the fish’s eye lenses help it detect prey better in dimly lit water. 

Bioluminescent creatures emit and produce their own light, whereas fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance—not always living—that has absorbed light or other radiation of a different wavelength. Animals use bioluminescence for many reasons including communication, but fluorescent creatures depend on the light to determine when they "glow."

According to the scientists who were part of NOAA's 2004 expedition, the shortnose greeneye fish's lens absorbs light that comes from the surface of the ocean, but it lets through the turquoise-colored light of most bioluminescence creatures. This allows the fish to discern the color of its prey in deep ocean waters.

 

This jewel squid (Histioteuthis bonnellii) lives above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Jewel Squid

Credit: David Shale/MAR-ECO, Census of Marine Life

This beautiful jewel squid (Histioteuthis bonnellii) can be found swimming above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at depths of 500-2,000 meters (1,640-6,562 feet). The “jewels” covering the body are bioluminescent photophores. But these squids can't bargain for their lives with those jewels: they have been found in the stomachs of sperm whales, swordfish and sharks.

A fringe of tentacles surrounds the bell of this jellyfish (Halicreas minimum).

Midwater Jellyfish

Credit: Marsh Youngbluth/MAR-ECO, Census of Marine Life

A fringe of short tentacles surrounds the flattened bell of this tiny, transparent jellyfish (Halicreas minimum), which can be found at depths up to 984 feet (300 meters). But it would be hard to spot: the bell grows up to just 4 centimeters (2 inches) across! See more deep ocean diversity and explore more about jellyfish biodiversity.