Facts about Bioluminescence in Deep Sea Creatures
- 05
Some deep-sea organisms use bioluminescence as counterillumination, matching the faint light from above to hide their silhouettes from predators below.
- 04
Many deep-sea creatures produce blue-green bioluminescent light, the wavelengths most capable of traveling through seawater with minimal absorption.
- 03
Bioluminescence in deep-sea creatures is produced through a chemical reaction between a compound called luciferin and an enzyme called luciferase, releasing light with very little heat.
- 02
The anglerfish uses a bioluminescent lure called an esca, produced by symbiotic bacteria, to attract prey in the pitch-dark deep ocean.
- 01
Approximately 76 percent of deep-sea creatures are capable of producing bioluminescence, making it the most common form of communication in the deep ocean.