10 Spectacular Glowing Animals

The ability to produce and emit light in the dark biochemically is called
bioluminescence, and it is one of the most fascinating phenomena in the
nature. While it is beautiful to look at for an observer of glow-in-the-dark
creatures, bioluminescence is actually used by many creatures as part of
their survival, defence and preying strategies as they use this natural
cold light to attract their prey or mates or distract predators. Humans,
too, have enlarged the list with some unlikely creatures, using the
advancement of science. Let us find out about such glowing animals:

1. Firefly

There are more than 2000 varieties of fireflies, found in temperate and
tropical environments. Also called lightning bugs, they have specialized
light emitting organs below their abdomen. They produce light of different
colours, like yellow, green, or pale red, and emit the light in blinking
patterns to attract mates. The light is also a sign of its unappetizing taste.
2. Jellyfish

Jellyfish is another very well-known luminous creature. With the help of

fluorescent protein, photo-protein and other bioluminescent proteins, this
glorious animal can create the most beautiful underwater scenario as it
emits a glow from its otherwise transparent body. Thats why, it is a
favourite animal for display in public aquariums.

3. Cookiecutter Shark
The cookie cutter shark, which barely comes to the surface of the sea,
has a unique way of eating: it cuts off cookie-sized chunks of flesh from
the body parts of its prey. The ventral part of its dark brown body is thick
with cells that emit light a cold light. This light combines with the dim light
filtering from the sky and blurs the familiar outline of the shark in the sea.

4. Clusterwink Snail

While glowing snails exhibit bioluminescence in the form of dim flashes

in the head-foot region, the clusterwink snail is the only snail that flicker
their shells like little light-bulbs. The spiral shells emit a blue-green glow
in flashes as a form of self-defence. Actually, it is the shell that amplifies
and diffuses the light which is produced from a single mushy spot of the
snails body. This light shocks the predator, and even attracts the
predator of the snails predator.
5. Bioluminescent Bacteria

Some bacteria, which live in the marine environment or the

decomposition or guts of sea creatures, have the capability to produce
light. Many animals live in symbiosis with these bacteria, and, in return
for shelter and nutrition in their bodies, use their bioluminescence. The
Angler fish, for instance, has bacteria living in its barb-like escae, which
glow to give using their bioluminescence. Flashlight fish have bacteria
residing in the small organs beneath their eyes while the Hawaiian
Bobtail Squids give shelter to such bacteria in their mantles.
6. Arachnocampa Gnats

Also known as the New Zealand Glowworm, this fungus gnat is a

luminescent creature that dwells in wet caves, humid forests and
grottoes. The caves, one of the most famous being the Waitomo, are
infested by these worms who form a glowing canopy as they stick to the
ceilings or walls of caves, or form glow worm threads.
7. Sea Sapphire

The
Sapphirina or sea sapphire is a small, parasitic crustacean or copepod. Tiny and
transparent, this creature is found in the marine environment all over the world. These
animals dont glow: the sparkle. The reason behind this is the iridescent, crystal plates
inside the epidermal cells which catch light and reflect it back. Different species give off
different colours of light, including golden, blue, etc. This display of luminescence is
only in case of the males who probably use this as a way of attracting the females.
They light up, and within the blink of an eye, they are gone, creating the most
stupendous experience ever for the observer.

8. Scorpion
Scorpions are neither bioluminescent nor iridescent, and they do not
glow with the help of bacteria, either. They glow when exposed to ultra-
violet lights of certain wavelengths. They give off a bright blue-green
fluorescence under black light and also if there is enough moonlight.
Though the real reason or use of this fluorescence is not yet known, but,
scientists are starting to believe that since scorpions do not like and even
UV lights, they probably use this mechanism to gauge the level of light,
and hence determine whether or not to come out and hunt. Of course,
there could be other uses, too, like recognizing each other.
9. Firefly Squid

One marine creature that puts to rest the act of bioluminescence of all
other creatures is the firefly squid or sparkling enope squid. Every year,
off the coast of Japan, the firefly squids are observed to give a
fascinating light show. It uses its light-producing organs called
photophores which emit a deep-blue light that can be flashed on and off
in unison or in various patterns. These predators flash the light to entice
their prey, and also to attract mates or confuse their predators about their
shape. They are seen to gather in the Toyama Bay during the months of
March to May, which is their mating season. Many spiders and insects
possess this ability, as well.
10. Man-made Glowing Animals

Scientists have used the sophistication of modern technology to engineer

genetic alterations in different animals, like cats, pigs, sheep, fish, cow,
etc. and made them into luminous creatures. According to scientists, this
can help to create animals with human diseases so that those can be
studied properly, and also to improve their production, as well as the
quality of the products we obtain from them so that they can be better
resources to human consumers.

The natural glowing mechanism comes from various methods like

bioluminescence, iridescence, etc. and these mechanisms are heavily
inspiring people into developing path-breaking inventions, and the
glowing animals are becoming the source of the natural cold light for
scientific studies.
 GLOWING ANIMAL
ARRANGED BY:

DANIEL
GRADE 4TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
OF DHARMA YUDHA
 GLOWING ANIMAL
ARRANGED BY:

KANYAKA
GRADE 4TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
OF DHARMA YUDHA
 GLOWING ANIMAL
ARRANGED BY:

ABIEL
GRADE 4TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
OF DHARMA YUDHA