Animals that emit light. Glowing animals. Varieties of marine luminous animals

Some marine animals, including 180 species of fish, have unique structures in their skin, which, when exposed to blue light, make them glow neon red, green, or orange. This feature is called biofluorescence. It, unlike bioluminescence, which occurs through a chemical reaction in the organisms of thousands of marine and terrestrial animals, occurs in a completely different way. 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, fluorescent organisms absorb blue light, transform it, and re-emit it. At the molecular level, this happens in the following way. Special fluorescent molecules in the body absorb high-energy blue light photons. When these photons collide with fluorescent molecules, the latter are "excited" to such an extent that their electrons become high-energy. Once "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 during their "excitation", they emit photons of 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, which are characterized by 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. So, 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 only blue light remains at depths of more than 100 meters. Biofluorescence is inherent marine life inhabiting different layers of the ocean. These include, for example, the cat shark, some representatives of the scorpionfish and tropefin fish families, as well as corals. According to scientists, this phenomenon is especially common among secretive fish hiding in corals and crevices on the bottom. Today, researchers cannot say unequivocally how animals use biofluorescence. However, according to the most common version, this feature is necessary for them 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 special structure eye. However, scientists have yet to explore this issue further. Interestingly, some species of animals can emit light of several colors. For example, most of body seahorse hippocampus erectus emits red light, but around the eyes of the animal there are green luminous blotches.

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

These are unicellular (nocturnal), coelenterates (sea feathers, hydroids, jellyfish, siphonophores), ctenophores, various crustaceans, mollusks (especially deep-sea squids), worms and echinoderms. But don't forget the fish a prime example which are anglers.

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

Sea pen belongs to the group of pinnate calcareous polyps. Known for their ability to glow. Glow is the reaction of the polyp to various stimuli. Widespread 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.

Hatchet fish lives at a depth of 200-600 meters, but some specimens can be found at a depth of up to 2 kilometers. Due to the narrow tail and wide flat body, they look somewhat like an ax. For which, in fact, they got their name. They grow no more than 7-8 centimeters. Predators. Photophores (luminescence organs) are located on the abdomen. During the glow, for fish living on greater depth, his silhouette becomes blurred. Therefore, the ability to glow in these fish serves to disguise, and not to lure prey, such as anglers. Hatchet fish can adjust the intensity of their glow.

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

Bomb worms have been found 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 setae attached to them. They swim very well. They do this with the help of wave-like movements of their body. In length grow from 2 to 10 centimeters.

Their main method of protection is the launch of "bombs" - simple sacs filled with hemolymph - a substance that is the "blood" of invertebrates. When the 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 in front of the eyes (on the eyelids and even in the eyeball). Sometimes they merge into continuous luminous bands that surround the eye. He can adjust the intensity of the glow of his "headlights". It feeds on fish and various vertebrates. Has an ink bag.

6. Giant deep-sea squid Taningia danae

It 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. The squid emits short flashes of light before attacking with the help of special organs located on the tentacles. There are several suggestions as to why he needs these flashes of light:

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

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

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

it deep sea shrimp. Their photophores are located on the body and on special areas of the liver that shine through the integument of the body. These shrimp are also capable of throwing out a glowing liquid that scares off 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 to distinguish each other.

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

A unique deep sea animal. It lives in the "oxygen minimum zone". Small sizes. Emits a glow.

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

We couldn't get past this fish. Idiacant, along with anglers, is a deep-sea fish and swims at a depth of 500 to 2000 meters. Habitats are tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. She has a long serpentine body. The length of females is several times greater than the length of males. Idiakant glows not only with scales, but also with long sharp teeth. Here you can get to know this fish better.

"My Planet" talks about amazing phenomenon- luminous living beings and where and when they can be seen.

About 800 species of creatures on the planet glow in the dark like light bulbs. These are the well-known fireflies, and some earthworms, and underwater inhabitants - deep-sea fish, jellyfish, squid. Some organisms glow constantly, and some are capable of only short flashes. Some shine with their whole body, others have special “flashlights” and “beacons” for this.

Light is used by organisms in the most various purposes: to attract prey and partners, to disguise, scare and disorient enemies, or simply to communicate with fellow tribesmen.

The ability of living things to emit light is called bioluminescence. It is based on chemical reaction, caused by the presence of certain substances and accompanied by the release of energy. Scientists began to study bioluminescence only in late XIX century, and there are still many questions and mysteries in this area. We will talk about the most amazing luminous creatures that inhabit our planet.

fireflies

Representatives of the firefly family (and there are about 2000 species of them) arrange spectacular illuminations at night, using their light device on the abdomen to mate and communicate with each other. Not only adults are capable of glowing, but also eggs and larvae. Light of Representatives different types differs in shades and character: from red-yellow to green, from continuous to pulsating. Many species of these beetles can regulate the light in their "bulbs": shine brightly or dimly, when gathered together, flash and go out at the same time. The females of the American firefly Photuris versicolor are especially insidious: at first they emit light signals to attract males of their own species, and after mating with them, they change call signs to lure males of another species - already for gastronomic purposes.

On the example of fireflies, one can understand how the process of bioluminescence occurs in general: in the beetle's abdomen there are photogenic cells containing small molecules - lucefirins. Under the influence of a special enzyme - luciferase, they are oxidized with the release of energy (the reaction requires the presence of oxygen, adenosine triphosphate and magnesium ions). In this case, the energy is not used for heating, as, for example, with an incandescent light bulb, but almost entirely goes into cold light. The efficiency of a firefly's "bulb" reaches 98%, while an ordinary incandescent lamp can turn only 5% of the energy into light. The light from 38 beetles can compete with the flame of an average wax candle.

In many countries, people used fireflies as light sources before the invention of Edison. Aborigines of Central and South America decorated themselves and their homes with fireflies on the days of ritual holidays. The Amazon Indians tied fire beetles to their feet, hoping to scare them away with light. poisonous snakes in the jungle. The Portuguese, who colonized Brazil, put beetles in lamps near icons instead of oil. Japanese geisha stuffed wicker vessels with fireflies - spectacular nightlights were obtained. Catching fireflies and admiring them is a long-standing entertainment of the Japanese.

Where to see: for example, in June you can come to the Japanese farm Yuyake Koyake (half an hour from Tokyo), where about 2500 crickets live.

Jellyfish

The jellyfish Aequorea victoria became a celebrity thanks to the Japanese scientist Osamu Shimomura: he became interested in its glow back in the 50s, caught similar jellyfish in buckets for decades and examined about 9,000 specimens. As a result, a green protein (GFP) was isolated from a jellyfish in the laboratory, which fluoresces with a greenish light when illuminated with blue light. It seemed like a Sisyphean task until genetic engineering appeared and the use of GFP was found: now this gene can be implanted in living organisms and see firsthand what happens in cells. For this discovery Shimomura received in 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

Where to see: at west coast North America.

glow worms

Luminescent worms live in Siberian soil. They have luminous points all over the body, react bluish- green light to various stimuli (mechanical, chemical, electrical), capable of glowing for up to ten minutes, gradually fading. Amazing worms, called Fridericia heliota, were discovered and studied by scientists from Krasnoyarsk. Having received a mega-grant to create a laboratory for bioluminescent biotechnologies at the Siberian Federal University, they invited the same Osamu Shimomura and were able to decipher the structure of the luminous protein of worms and even synthesize it in the laboratory. This year they published the results of their years of research. Scientists collected worms themselves, having shoveled tons of Siberian soil.

Where to see: in the Siberian taiga at night.

mosquito larvae

Fungal mosquitoes Arachnocampa spend from six months to a year of life in the state of larvae, and in the guise of a mosquito they live only one or two days. As larvae, they weave webs of silk like spiders and illuminate them with their own blue-green light. As a result, their colonies on the walls and ceilings of caves look like a starry sky. The hungrier the larvae, the brighter they glow, attracting prey - small insects.

Where to see: in Australian and New Zealand caves - especially popular with tourists different countries Boat trips to the Waitomo Caves.

crustaceans

During World War II, the Japanese collected the small barnacle ostracod Cypridina hilgendorfii and used them for lighting at night. These natural light bulbs turn on very simply: just wet them with water.

Where to see: in coastal waters and the sands of Japan.

Fish

In the depths of the oceans, amazing luminous fish live, equipped with special bodies- photophores. These are lantern glands that can be located anywhere: on the head, back, sides, around the eyes or mouth, on the antennae or processes of the body. They are filled with slime, inside of which bioluminescent bacteria glow. It is curious that the fish itself can control the glow of bacteria by constricting or expanding blood vessels - oxygen is needed for flashes of light. The most interesting of the luminous fish - deep sea anglers living at a depth of about 3 km under water. Females, which can reach a meter in length, have a special fishing rod with a “beacon” at the end: it is the light that attracts prey to it. The most advanced type of anglerfish, the benthic galateatuma Galateathauma axeli, has a light "bait" right in its mouth. She does not need to hunt - just open her mouth and swallow her prey.

Another colorful fish is the black dragon (Malacosteus niger). It is notable for the fact that it emits red light with the help of special "spotlights" located under the eyes. The light is not visible to almost any of the deep-sea inhabitants of the ocean, and the fish can safely light their way, remaining unnoticed.

Where to see: deep in the ocean.

squids

Among squid, there are about 70 bioluminescent species. The world's largest luminous creature is giant squid Taningia danae - scientists were able to see an individual 2.3 m long and weighing 60 kg. Light organs are located on his tentacles. Scientists suggest that the squid emits flashes of light in order to blind the victim and measure the distance to the target. In 2007, a team from the Tokyo National Museum of Science filmed a fragment of a giant squid hunting, which lives at depths of up to 1000 m.

Another amazing cephalopod is the vampire squid Vampyroteuthis infernalis. Because of the unusual glow organs, he was singled out by scientists in a separate detachment. In addition to two large photophores, he has small luminous "lanterns" all over his body, besides, he can release a light curtain consisting of numerous blue luminous balls from the tips of his tentacles. it powerful weapon in the fight against the enemy, it lasts up to ten minutes and allows the squid to hide in case of danger. Curiously, the underwater vampire can adjust the brightness and size of the color spot.

Where to see: in early March, hordes of firefly squid Watasenia live in Japan near the coast of Toyama Bay. These small creatures live in the western part Pacific Ocean at a depth of up to 350 m and in spring they come to the surface to spawn, arranging a light show for tourists.

fireworks

Fireballs, or pyrosomes, are marine free-floating colonial creatures from the class of tunicates. They are made up of thousands of small organisms called zooids. Each of them has bacterial luminous organs, due to which the entire colony luminesces with a bluish-green light, visible at a distance of more than 30 m. This animal, similar to giant worm, closed end outward, and an adult could fit in the inner cavity. An underwater monster can grow up to 30 m in length. Biologists call pyros sea ​​unicorns, as they are one of the most mysterious and little-studied creatures on the planet.

Where to see: waters near the Australian island of Tasmania is one of the few places on the planet where fireballs swim close to the shore. In 2011, Michael Baron filmed an 18-meter sea unicorn in these places.

green animals

Thanks to a protein isolated from jellyfish, scientists have bred animals that glow green when illuminated with ultraviolet light. In 1998, the first green mouse with the GFP gene appeared, then scientists gave the world green pigs and sheep, glowing colorful fish GloFish and genetically modified silkworms that produce fluorescent silk. Scientists hope that colored genes will help fight diseases such as HIV, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

If we are asked to recall some kind of luminous animal, then most likely we will name a firefly bug. But in fact, not only he has the ability to glow in the dark. The seas and oceans are especially rich in such inhabitants.

Varieties of marine luminous animals

On the Black Sea coast, 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 figured out that it's all about billions of microscopic organisms - infusoria nocturnus, 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.

1. Jellyfish, spreading their gelatinous bodies-umbrellas, can glow different colors: yellow, blue, green and red.
2. There are "fireflies" and among fish. Someone's eyes glow, someone has a growth right on the muzzle that emits light like a light bulb, the third (angler fish) has a cord with a luminous end attached to the lower jaw. There are also fish that glow with their whole body, thanks to special bodies located along it, for example, hatchet fish.
3. Luminous marine animals are even in the most deep sea trenches where no ray of light from outside can penetrate. At the very bottom, among the stones, you can see luminous shellfish and worms. Their bodies, like diamond dust, are dotted with specks and spots that emit a glow. On ledges of rocks surrounded by light lie sea ​​stars , a deep sea cancer lights his way with huge eyes.
4. AT underwater world can be found and emitting light corals and polyps, for example, Sea pen and a regular sprig of red corals.

Varieties of luminous animals living on land

On land, the ability to glow in the dark is mainly possessed by beetles. So, in Europe alone, there are six species, combined into one big family"lampiride" or fireflies. Beetles - fireflies can arrange a very colorful spectacle when they stick around some tree or shrub at night.

Why do animals glow?

An example of how some animals emit light is cephalopod . In his skin are small, hard, oval-shaped formations. Their front transparent part protrudes from the skin to the outside 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 are several more rows of silvery cells, which are the middle part of the luminous organ of the mollusk. And even lower there are complex cells similar to the nerve endings of the retina of a mammalian eye. It is they that line the entire inner surface of the oval formation (calf) and let out the light that is refracted and amplified by the front transparent part.

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

The light arrangement of the cephalopod mollusk is the most complex in the animal kingdom. Luminous devices of other creatures are simpler.