Friday, April 10, 2015

Deep Sea Lights

What deep-sea organisms are capable of bioluminescence, and how does this ability benefit these organisms?

Deep-sea organisms that are capable are the Anglerfish, and it uses it to lure prey, and micro organisms use it to signal distress.  Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living animal.  It's a form of chemiuminescence.  It benefits deep sea organisms for many different reasons.  For some creatures, if an animal is in trouble, it will draw attention to them so that another fish can come save them.  Another example is for luring prey in.












The organism I chose is the Anglerfish.  The fish is named for its characteristic mode of predation, where a glow shows from the head to lure other fish in.  They are members of the Lophiiformes.  The Angler fish might possibly be the ugliest creature on the planet.  There are more than 200 species of Angler Fish, and they live in the murky depths of the Atlantic and Antarctic Oceans.  Only females wear a piece of dorsal spine that protrudes above their mouths like a fishing pole.  The lure is of luminescences.  The Angler Fish uses its bioluminescences to lure in other fish as prey so that it can survive.

1 comment:

  1. Excellent article. Love the anglerfish. I hope to meet another soon.

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