one amazing fact.

An interesting fact...

on BIOLUMINESCENCE

Bioluminescence is an evolutionary phenomenon that gives certain land/sea creatures the ability to glow in the dark. It also causes beautiful blue-green lights we can see glowing in the ocean waves at night!

Some organisms glow. Scientists believe that this glowing ability might have originated in ocean organisms. Some advantages of bioluminescent glowing are:

1. Finding / attracting prey.
Glow-in-the-dark baits are used by fishermen at night. Likewise, bioluminescent organisms use their eerie light to attract prey in the dark waters of the ocean. Smart! (:

2.Defense against predators.
The glowing ability can be used as a clever decoy. Some squid and shrimp produce a glowing cloud at night, allowing them to escape attack.
Plankton use flashes of light to startle their predators. (:

3.Communication.
Some animals ( eg. fireflies , bristle worms) use bioluminensce for mating purposes. The males attract females with flashy light shows.

4. Provide light
Since most of the Earth's oceans are pitch black at night, tiny plants like dinoflagellates help provide the primary source of light in the waters.

dinoflagellate

The ethereal glow you witness in the oceans may be coming from these tiny, tiny plants.

Other bioluminescent ocean organisms range from bacteria to fungi to some fish. Even a few sharks are bioluminescent! 0.o

cookie cutter shark

How Do Bioluminescent Creatures Glow？

• An organic molecule called luciferin produces lightis the light you see.


• An enzyme named luciferase acts as the catalyst that causes oxidation.


• The resulting oxyluciferin is the light you see. (:
  

Bioluminescent jellyfish

Some more Facts:

Fish in the Malacosteid (loosejaw) family emit red light as a cunning predatory feature. Most marine creatures can't see the red light, so the wily fish can use this light to sneak up on their prey.