Incredible creatures that can glow in the dark. Deep sea glowing fish Glowing animals

Many organisms of the plant and animal world are capable of emitting light. On this moment There are about 800 species of such animals, some of which belong to deep-sea inhabitants.

These are unicellular organisms (nightlights), coelenterates (sea pens, hydroids, jellyfish, siphonophores), ctenophores, various crustaceans, mollusks (especially deep-sea squids), worms and echinoderms. But don't forget about the fish, a shining example which are anglerfish.

There is not enough time to talk about all the “glowing in the night”, so we decided to compile the Top 10 most interesting luminous representatives of the deep-sea world.

The sea pen belongs to the group of feathery calcareous polyps. Known for their ability to glow. Glow is the reaction of the polyp to various stimuli. Distributed in tropical and subtropical waters Atlantic Ocean And Mediterranean Sea. Settle in colonies on sandy or muddy seabed. They feed on plankton and organic matter. They grow up to 40 centimeters (upper and lower parts), but on the surface their “feather” does not exceed 25 centimeters. In total there are about 300 species.

The hatchet fish lives at a depth of 200-600 meters, but some specimens can be found at a depth of up to 2 kilometers. Thanks to their narrow tail and wide, flat body, they look somewhat like an axe. That's why they got their name. They grow no more than 7-8 centimeters. Predators. Photophores (luminescent organs) are located on the abdomen. During the glow, for fish living at greater depths, its silhouette becomes blurred. Therefore, the ability to glow in these fish serves for camouflage, and not for luring prey, for example, like anglers. Hatchet fish can adjust the intensity of their shine.

Each representative of this type of marine invertebrate animals has “combs” - ridge plates, which are bundles of cilia glued together. The sizes are very varied - from 2-2.5 mm to 3 m (for example, Venus' belt (Cestum Veneris)). The body is like a bag, at one end of which there is a mouth, and at the other, organs of balance. Ctenophores do not have stinging cells, so food is captured directly by the mouth or by hunting tentacles (in ctenophores of the Tentaculata class). They are hermaphrodites. They feed on plankton, fish fry and other ctenophores.

Bomb worms have been discovered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Philippines, Mexico and the United States. They live at a depth of 1.8 to 3.8 kilometers. Their body consists of segments and bristles attached to them. They swim very well. They do this using wave-like movements of their body. They grow from 2 to 10 centimeters in length.

Their main method of defense is the launch of “bombs” - simple sacs filled with hemolymph - a substance that is the “blood” of invertebrates. When an enemy approaches, these bombs are separated from the worm and begin to luminesce.

It lives at a depth of 500-1000 meters. It is literally dotted with photophores of various sizes, most of which is located on the eyes (on the eyelids and even in the eyeball). Sometimes they merge into solid luminous stripes that surround the eye. He can adjust the intensity of his "headlights". It feeds on fish and various vertebrates. Has an ink sac.

6. Giant deep-sea squid Taningia danae

This is the largest bioluminescent squid. Known to science The specimen reaches a length of 2.3 meters and weighs about 60 kilograms. It lives in tropical and subtropical waters at a depth of about 1000 meters. Aggressive predator. The pursuit speed is 2.5 meters per second. Before attacking, the squid emits short flashes of light using special organs located on its tentacles. There are several assumptions about why he needs these flashes of light:

They help the squid blind its prey;
allow you to measure the distance to the target;
or are an element of courtship.

A bright representative of deep-sea luminous fish. One of the most scary fish in the world. Lives at depths of up to 3000 meters. Distinctive feature is a process on the head of females, at the end of which there is a sac with luminous bacteria. It acts as bait for other deep-sea fish. Anglerfish also feed on crustaceans and cephalopods. Very gluttonous.

With more detailed information You can find out about these fish.

These are deep sea shrimp. Their photophores are located on the body and in special areas of the liver, which are visible through the integument of the body. These shrimp are also capable of releasing a glowing liquid that scares away opponents. In addition, this glow helps them find each other during the breeding season. Each species of these shrimp has certain luminous areas. This helps them differentiate between each other.

9. Hellish vampire or hellish vampire squid (lat. Vampyroteuthis infernalis)

A unique deep-sea animal. Lives in the “minimum oxygen zone.” Small sizes. Emits a glow.

If you want to get to know him better, then you.

We couldn't ignore this fish. Idiacanth, along with anglers, is a deep-sea fish and swims at depths from 500 to 2000 meters. Habitats are tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. She has a long snake-like body. The length of females is several times greater than the length of males. Not only the scales of the idiotanth glow, but also its long, sharp teeth. Here you can get to know this fish better.

The depths of the oceans and seas are inhabited by many amazing living creatures, among which there is a real miracle of nature. These are deep-sea creatures that are equipped with unique organs - photophores. These special lantern glands can be located in different places: on the head, around the mouth or eyes, on the antennae, on the back, on the sides or appendages of the body. The photophores are filled with mucus containing glowing bioluminescent bacteria.

deep sea glowing fish

It is worth noting that glowing fish is able to control the glow of bacteria itself, expanding or narrowing blood vessels, because Flashes of light require oxygen.

One of the most interesting of the representatives glowing fish are deep-sea anglerfish that live at a depth of about 3000 meters.

In their arsenal, females that reach a meter in length have a special fishing rod with a “beacon bait” at its end, which attracts prey to it. Very interesting view is the bottom-dwelling galateathauma (Latin: Galatheathauma axeli), which is equipped with a light “bait” right in its mouth. She does not “bother” herself with hunting, because all she needs to do is take a comfortable position, open her mouth and swallow “naive” prey.

Anglerfish (lat. Ceratioidei)

One more interesting representative, glowing fish is a black dragon (lat. Malacosteus niger). She emits red light using special “spotlights” that are located under her eyes. For the deep-sea inhabitants of the ocean, this light is invisible, and the black dragon fish illuminates its path, while remaining unnoticed.

Those representatives of deep-sea fish that have specific luminous organs, telescopic eyes, etc., belong to true deep-sea fish; they should not be confused with shelf-deep-sea fish, which do not have such adaptive organs and live on the continental slope.

Black dragon (Latin: Malacosteus niger)

Known since flying fish:

lantern-eyed (lat. Anomalopidae)

glowing anchovies, or myctophidae (lat. Myctophidae)

anglerfish (lat. Ceratioidei)

Brazilian glowing (cigar) sharks (lat. Isistius Brasiliensis)

gonostomaceae (lat. Gonostomatidae)

Chauliodontidae (lat. Chauliodontidae)

Glowing anchovies are small fish with a laterally compressed body, a large head and a very large mouth. The length of their body, depending on the species, ranges from 2.5 to 25 cm. They have special luminous organs that emit green, blue, or yellowish light, which is formed due to chemical reactions occurring in photocytic cells.

Glowing anchovies (lat. Myctophidae)

They are widespread throughout the world's oceans. Many species of Myctophidae have huge numbers. Myctophidae, together with photychthyids and gonostomids, make up up to 90% of the population of all known deep-sea fish.

Gonostoma (lat. Gonostomatidae)

The life of these deep-sea elusive representatives marine fauna, carefully hidden from prying eyes, it flows at a depth of 1000 to 6000 meters. And since the World Ocean, according to scientists, has been studied less than 5%, humanity still has a lot to look forward to. amazing discoveries, among them, perhaps, there will be new species of deep-sea glowing fish.

And with others, no less interesting creatures, inhabiting depths of the sea, these articles will introduce you:

Bioluminescence is the ability of living organisms to glow. It is based on chemical processes in which the released energy is released in the form of light. Bioluminescence serves to attract prey, mates, communication, warning, camouflage or deterrence.

Scientists believe that bioluminescence appeared at the stage of transition from anaerobic to aerobic forms of life as a protective reaction of ancient bacteria towards the “poison” - oxygen, which was released by green plants during photosynthesis. Bioluminescence is found in bacteria, fungi and a fairly wide range of representatives of the animal class - from protozoa to chordates. But it is especially common among crustaceans, insects and fish.

Bacteria help organisms “create” light, or they cope with this task on our own. In this case, light can be emitted both by the entire surface of the body and by special organs - glands, mainly of skin origin. The latter are present in many marine animals, and among terrestrial animals - in insects, some earthworms, centipedes, etc.

Common firefly

Perhaps the most famous of the bioluminescents. Firefly family ( Lampyridae) has about 2000 species. The tropics and subtropics boast the greatest diversity of these beetles, but in the territory former USSR There were only seven genera and about 20 species of these insects. Well, they need light not at all “so that we have light on the darkest night,” but for communication with each other, be it calling signals of males in search of females, mimicry (under ambient lighting, for example, the light of a light bulb or the Moon illuminating the grass ), territory protection, etc.

Nochesvetka

Noctiluca scintillans, or nocturnal light, belongs to the species of so-called dinoflagellates. They are sometimes also called dinoflagellate algae due to their ability to photosynthesize. In fact, most of them are flagellates with a developed intracellular shell. It is dinoflagellates that are responsible for the famous “red tides,” phenomena that are as frightening as they are beautiful. But especially magnificent, of course, is the blue “illumination” of nocturnal lights, which can be observed at night in the waters of seas, oceans and lakes. Both the red color and the blue glow are caused by the abundance of these amazing tiny organisms in the water.

Angler

This innocent species of anglerfish gets its name bony fish received thanks to his extremely unattractive appearance. Judge for yourself:

Sea devils have a “bad bite,” which is why their mouth is constantly open and sharp, spiked teeth protrude from it. The body of the fish is covered with a large number of skin growths, tubercles and plaques. It is not surprising that these marine “quasimodos” prefer to live at great depths - apparently, this is how they hide from unkind eyes. But seriously, these fish are very interesting. From other inhabitants underwater world They are, among other things, distinguished by the front part of the dorsal fin, which is located directly above the mouth. This glowing “flashlight” is needed monkfish not to light the way, but to attract prey.

Fungus gnats

No less surprising are other bioluminescents - a genus of fungus gnats from the fungus gnat family. Previously this genus was called Bolitiphila, which means “mushroom lover.” It has now been renamed to Arachnocampa- “spider larva”. The fact is that the larva of this mosquito weaves real webs. Having just hatched into the world, the larvae are only 3-5 mm long, but in the final stage of development they grow up to 3 cm. It is in the larval stage that these mosquitoes spend most of their lives, therefore, in order to feed and attract prey, they weave on the ceiling of the caves is something like a nest of silk, hanging down the ends of sticky threads that illuminate own body. Distributed in caves and grottos in Australia and New Zealand.

neon mushroom

Unfortunately, this is a miracle of nature - a stunningly beautiful luminescent mushroom Chlorophos Mycena– you won’t find it in our area. To see it, you should go to Japan or Brazil. And even there you will have to wait for the rainy season, when these amazing green mushrooms appear from literally “flaming” spores.

Whether this miracle is edible or not is unknown. However, few people would dare to serve such a luminous plate to the table. If you decide to look for it, we recommend looking at the base of tree trunks, next to fallen or cut branches, piles of leaves, or simply on damp soil.

Giant squid

This is the largest bioluminescent squid ( Taningia danae) and probably the most beautiful view these animals in general. Science knows of a specimen whose length was 2.3 m and its weight was about 161 kg! However, it is not so easy to see this majestic beauty: it lives at a depth of about 1000 m and is found in tropical and subtropical waters. Despite the beauty Taningia danae- an aggressive predator. Before pouncing on its prey, the squid emits short flashes of light using special organs located on its tentacles. What are these flashes for? Well, obviously not to “warn” the victim. Scientists believe that they are needed either to blind deep-sea inhabitants or to estimate the distance to a target. A colorful show also helps the animal seduce a female.

Some marine animals, including 180 species of fish, have unique structures in their skin that, when exposed to blue light, allow them to glow neon red, green or orange. This feature is called biofluorescence. It, unlike bioluminescence, which occurs with the help chemical reaction in the bodies of thousands of marine and terrestrial animals, it happens completely differently. First of all, biofluorescence is not the result of a chemical reaction, and the external tissues of animals cannot emit light on their own. Instead, organisms that exhibit fluorescence absorb blue light, transform it, and re-emit it. At the molecular level, this happens as follows. Special fluorescent molecules in the body absorb high-energy photons of blue light. When these photons collide with fluorescent molecules, the latter become “excited” to the point that their electrons become high-energy. After being “excited,” the electrons quickly return to their original state, but during this “relaxation,” they release energy in the form of photons. But because the electrons expended energy when they were “excited,” they emit photons at a lower energy level than those that were absorbed. In other words, the body begins to emit long-wavelength light, such as green, yellow or orange. Marine animals that exhibit biofluorescence constantly absorb the blue light present in the ocean. It is known that light is absorbed by water molecules, organic and inorganic substances, dissolved in water, and phytoplankton. Thus, infrared and red light are completely absorbed by the upper layers of water, only green-blue light penetrates into the deep layers of the ocean, and at depths of more than 100 meters only blue light remains. Biofluorescence is characteristic sea life, inhabiting different layers of the ocean. These include, for example, the cat shark, some representatives of the families of scorpionfish and triple-finned fish, as well as corals. According to scientists, this phenomenon is especially common among secretive fish that hide in corals and cracks on the bottom. Today, researchers cannot say for sure how animals use biofluorescence. However, according to the most common version, they need this feature to communicate with each other. Moreover, this method allows fish to exchange signals secretly, remaining invisible to predators. After all, it is known that not all fish have the ability to see neon light, but only species with a special eye structure. However, scientists have yet to explore this issue more deeply. Interestingly, some animal species can emit multiple colors of light. For example, most of the seahorse's body Hippocampus erectus emits a red light, but there are green luminous inclusions around the animal’s eyes.