6 Creatures of the Deep that are Bioluminescent

What does it mean if a creature is bioluminescent? Bioluminescence is light produced by an organism using a chemical reaction. On land, living organisms that light up are few and far between. There are fireflies, some mushrooms, and glowworms. However, under the sea, studies have shown that over 50% of deep-sea creatures create their own light.

Most bioluminescent creatures of the deep are usually blue in color. That is because this is the light that travels best through the water. However, these colors can range from green to yellow to nearly violet. Additionally, there can even be red. With major parts of the ocean being completely dark, these creatures use their light in many different ways to help to their advantage.

However, there are many different uses for a bioluminescent light in the darkness of the ocean. Some creatures use it as a defense mechanism. Meanwhile, others will release a glowing liquid or even remove a glowing part of themselves as a distraction. In comparison, others use it to find a mate. Their light can be used to signal a potential partner that they are ready. Yet other creatures use it as camouflage. Their light can be used as a cloaking device. Finally, these lights can be used to simply find food. Some fish use their light as a lure to catch their prey.

1. Bobtail Squid

Hawaiian Bobtail Squid use their bioluminescence to hide from their predators. They live in the Pacific Ocean, especially the Red Sea. These squids live in the shallow waters of the Hawaiian Islands. They bury themselves in muddy areas or sand during the day and come out at night to feed. This squid also has a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria. The bacteria help hide the squid by making it virtually invisible. These squid are not born with these bacteria, it secretes a mucus around its light organs to capture it.

2. Comb Jellyfish

These particular jellyfish live at 23,000 feet under the sea. Their body glows a blue rainbow color that protects them from predators. A Comb Jelly has an oval-shaped body with eight tiny comblike plates that move the jelly throughout the water. Additionally, as it swims, the comb breaks up light to produce a rainbow effect. Some jellies can expand their stomachs to hold prey that is almost half of their size.

3. Deep Sea Shrimp

Deep Sea Shrimp are semi-transparent and one of the tinier bioluminescent creatures in the sea. They are in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic Ocean, Spain, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan. These shrimps actually have two ways in which they are bioluminescent. They can emit light from their entire body, including their eyes, abdomen, and limbs. They can also spew blue secretions from their mouths as a form of defense against predators.

4. Angler Fish

These fish are in the Antarctic Ocean and deep in the Atlantic. Angler fish live in complete darkness, around 6,600 feet. They also have massive mouths with sharp teeth and can swallow prey twice their size. However, only the female Angler Fish can exhibit bioluminescence. They dangle a blueish-white lure from their foreheads in the hope of attracting their prey.

5. Firefly Squid

Also known as the Sparkling Enope Squid, these creatures will mostly be found in the western Pacific Ocean. This species of squid only grows to three inches and has special light-producing organs called photophores. Emitting a bioluminescent deep blue light, these organs are found all throughout the squid’s entire body. The lights can also blink in complete unison, alternate, or form any pattern. This helps the firefly squid on many different levels. Different light patterns is for communicate with possible mates. While a different pattern can cause the squid to appear bigger in shape, scaring off predators.

6. Deep Sea Dragonfish

Deep Sea Dragonfish can be found worldwide in any tropical to temperate oceans. At only six inches in length, this creature has extremely large teeth compared to its body size. Like the Angler Fish, it has a barbel attached to it. Only theirs is attached to its chin. Along with the barbel being tipped with a light-producing photophore, there is also bioluminescence along the side of its body. These can be used to lure prey, attract a mate, or even scare away predators.