Bioluminescent and red-fluorescent lures in a deep-sea siphonophore.
Bioluminescence (light production) and fluorescence (re-emission of absorbed radiation as light) are found in an unaccountably diverse array of marine organisms, where their functions are largely unknown. Here we report a deep-sea siphonophore that twitches glowing lures to attract fish. This is rare evidence of bioluminescence used for prey attraction among nonvisual marine organisms. The lures also contain red fluorescent material that shifts the wavelength of emitted light. The existence of a red-luminescent invertebrate suggests that long-wavelength light plays a greater role in marine interactions than previously suspected.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA. haddock@mbari.org
Steven H D
SH
Haddock
Casey W
CW
Dunn
Philip R
PR
Pugh
Christine E
CE
Schnitzler
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005453:Fluorescence; D037402:Hydrozoa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D049449:Luminescence; D011235:Predatory Behavior
D002118:Calcium