The World’s Most Incredible Bioluminescent Animals

Published October 28, 2012
Updated November 8, 2023

Bioluminescence in living organisms is nature's way of saying that magic is real -- an unbelievable look at bioluminescent animals.

Bioluminescent Animals

Source: Imgur

The Deep Sea Dragonfish

Dragonfish belong to a group of deep sea fishes known as Stomiidae, and vary greatly based on sex. Females grow to just over foot and are much more aggressive than the male, who is ten times smaller, toothless and without a working gut.

Females of some species also boast an illuminated barbell that grows from the chin, which is used as a lure for prey. Apart from the barbell, Dragonfish also have light emitting organs called photophores along the length of their bodies and in their fins.

Dragon Fish

Incredible Bioluminescent Animals: Firefly Squid

Bioluminescent Animals Firefly Squid

Source: Wikimedia

Firefly squid, also known as Sparkling Enope Squid, grow to about 3 inches in length. Like many other squids, their body is covered in pigmentation cells (chromatophores) that allow it precise control over its coloration. Unlike most other squids, though, it is also covered in photophores, which produce light.

The brightest of these are in the tentacle tips, but they can use those located over the rest of their body to match the light coming from above, so they will remain unseen by predators below. Firefly squid are (so far) the only squid known to have color vision. They are also supposed to be very tasty.

Firefly Squid

Source: Info Toyama

Fire Flies

Firefly

Source: Frfly

Fireflies are the best known example of bioluminescent animals and there about 2,000 different species of flying beetle that claim the name. They are found around the world in temperate and tropical climates, and as a result of the varying geographical populations and characteristics, bioluminescence may be distinctive even between species.

Firefly Bioluminescence

Source: Imgur

Mushrooms

Mushroom

Source: Flickr

There are over 60 different type of luminescent fungus, most of which are only dimly lit, but some of which are bright enough to read by.  A number of theories regarding why these species actually glow are currently being investigated.

Some think that it may be a warning of toxicity, while other think it might be either a ploy to attract animals that might spreads its reproductive spores, or a security light to illuminate those that might eat them, making the perpetrators visible to their own predators.

Mushroom Bioluminescence

Source: Wikimedia

Mushroom Glowing

Source: Wikimedia

Vampirotoothus

Vampyroteuthis

Source: WordPress

Vampiroteuthus Infernus has been around and unchanged since the dinosaurs walked the earth 300 million years ago. Its name technically means “Vampire Squid”, but the vampirotoothus is actually more closely related to the Octopus family.

It differs from both octopus and squid in that it also has spines that run along the inside of the cloak and up to the mouth. It uses bioluminescence as a defense mechanism to confuse potential predators. Instead of squirting ink when threatened, it can discharge sticky mucus of glowing blue orbs.

Vampire Squid

Source: WordPress

author
Savannah Cox
author
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.