Birds glow in the dark. The most unusual luminous sea animals

Many organisms of the plant and animal world are capable of emitting light. On at the 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. They live in colonies on sandy or muddy seabeds. 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 Pacific Ocean– off the coast of the Philippines, Mexico and the USA. 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 are located on the eyes (on the eyelids and even in the eyeball). Sometimes they merge into continuous 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 the deep sea glowing 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)

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 don’t need light at all “so that it would be light for us.” dark 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), defense of territory, etc.

Common firefly / ©Flickr

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.

Water “illuminated” by night lights / ©Flickr

Monkfish

This innocent species of angler-shaped bony fish received its name due to its extremely unattractive appearance. Judge for yourself:

deep sea monkfish/ ©Flickr

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 a large number skin growths, bumps and plaques. It is not surprising that these marine “quasimodos” prefer to live on great depth- Apparently, this is how they hide from unkind eyes. But seriously, these fish are very interesting. Among other things, they are distinguished from other inhabitants of the underwater world by their front part. 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 on the ceiling of the caves there is something like a nest of silk, hanging down the ends of sticky threads, which are illuminated by their own body. Distributed in caves and grottos in Australia and New Zealand.

Fungus gnat larvae / ©Flickr

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.

Neon mushrooms / ©Flickr

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 for blindness deep sea inhabitants, or in order to estimate the distance to the target. A colorful show also helps the animal seduce a female.

Giant bioluminescent squid / ©Flickr

If we are asked to remember any luminous animal, then most likely we will name the firefly bug. But in fact, he is not the only one who has the ability to glow in the dark. The seas and oceans are especially rich in such inhabitants.

Varieties of sea luminous animals

On the shores of the Black Sea you can often see a breathtaking natural spectacle. On the water surface with small ripples, a strip of light suddenly sparkles, followed by a second, then a third... Who lights these colorful lights?

Scientists have long found out that it’s all about billions of microscopic organisms - ciliates nocturnal flowers, which are found in great abundance in sea waters. Inside each ciliate there are several yellow balls - they are the source of light.

If we dive deeper from the surface of the sea, we will discover even more luminous animals.

Jellyfish, spreading out their gelatinous umbrella bodies, can glow different colors: yellow, blue, green and red.
There are “fireflies” among fish. Some people's eyes glow, others have a growth growing right on their muzzle, emitting light, like a light bulb, the third (angler fish) has a cord with a luminous end attached to its lower jaw. There are also fish that glow throughout their entire body, thanks to special organs located along it, for example, the hatchet fish.
There are luminous sea animals even in the deepest depressions, where not a single ray of light penetrates from the outside. At the very bottom, among the stones you can see glowing shellfish and worms. Their bodies, like diamond dust, are dotted with specks and spots that emit a glow. On the ledges of rocks surrounded by light lie starfish , A deep sea crayfish illuminates his path with huge eyes.
IN underwater world can also be found emitting light corals and polyps, for example, a sea feather and a regular sprig of red coral.

Varieties of luminous animals living on land

On land, the ability to glow in the dark is mainly possessed by beetles. Thus, in Europe alone there are six species of them, united in one large family of “lampirids” or fireflies. Fireflies can put on a very colorful spectacle when they cling to some tree or shrub at night.

Why do animals glow?

An example of how some animals produce light is cephalopod . There are small, oval-shaped, hard formations in his skin. Their front transparent part protrudes from skin outward and works like the lens of the human eye. The back of the formation is located in the thickness of the skin, as if wrapped in a black mantle of pigment cells.

Under this mantle there are several more rows of silvery cells, which are middle part luminous organ of the mollusk. And even lower there are complex cells similar to the nerve endings of the retina of a mammal. It is they that line the entire internal surface of the oval formation (corpuscle) and release light outward, refracted and amplified by the front transparent part.

The light is also doubled thanks to special reflectors in the skin of the mollusk, located next to the oval body. These reflectors are similar in shape to concave mirrors and, in turn, also consist of several layers of light-sensitive cells.

The light design of a cephalopod is the most complex in the animal world. The luminous devices of other creatures are simpler.

Ecology

Some living organisms can illuminate dark places without help sunlight. While The most famous bioluminescent creatures are fireflies, besides them there are various types insects, fungi, bacteria, jellyfish and bony fish that can glow. They often use chemical reactions at night, in caves or in the black depths of the ocean.

Bioluminescence has evolved along with life on earth, although there are no flowering plants with this ability and very few animals that can glow, researchers believe that these abilities have evolved independently many times.

As representatives say new exhibition bioluminescence at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, it has evolved at least 50 times, and maybe more. Among bony fish, the ability to glow, sometimes with the help of glowing bacteria, has evolved 20 to 30 times in different groups, according to John Sparks, curator of ichthyology at the museum.

"Even in the case of fish, we know that each time the abilities developed independently of each other, because the process involved different chemical reactions used by different groups. Some used the 'services' of special bacteria, others learned to glow on their own."

Glow-in-the-dark organisms use different variations chemical reactions, which include at least three components: the enzyme luciferase, which helps oxygen bind to organic molecules(third component) is called luciferin. The highly energetic molecule created by the reaction releases energy in the form of light.

According to the exhibition materials, bioluminescence has many applications for organisms that use this component. Fireflies use light to attract mates and warn predators of toxins they might encounter if they attack the fireflies. Deep sea anglerfish use “lit” bait to attract prey. The belly of silver belly fish also glows, which is a kind of camouflage that helps them fit in environment. Dinoflagellates - the simplest single-celled organisms - begin to glow if they are disturbed, perhaps they do this in order to scare off a predator, or to attract another predator that feeds on their “enemy”. Mosquito fungus larvae glow to attract prey.

Most bioluminescent organisms, about 80 percent of species, live in the most "densely populated" place on the planet - deep in the sea. In fact, it is believed that most species that live below 700 meters can produce their own light. There is no consensus as to why the ability to glow has evolved so many times, but the theory is an adaptation to life in sea depths, according to Sparks, the most popular.

"Luciferins, these light-producing molecules, are good antioxidants, so it's thought that they may have been antioxidants for a period of time and then retrained," Sparks explains.

As oxygen levels in the ocean increased, animals moved into deeper waters to stay out of reach ultraviolet radiation. IN deep waters, where antioxidants are no longer needed to repair genetic damage caused by UV radiation, luciferins have evolved into organisms that produce light.

However, not everything that glows is bioluminescent. Some organisms, such as corals, glow by absorbing light at one wavelength of ultraviolet radiation and releasing it at another wavelength. Since UV radiation is not visible to the human eye, these creatures may appear to produce their own light.

The exhibition "Beings of Light: Natural Bioluminescence" opens in American Museum Natural History in New York on March 31 and runs until January 6, 2013.