Mother Nature has many tricks up her sleeves, and bioluminescence, the ability biochemically to produce and emit light in the dark, just so happens to

Mother Nature has many tricks up her sleeves, and bioluminescence, the ability biochemically to produce and emit light in the dark, just so happens to be one of them. There are an abundance of organisms who display this spectacular ability and it isn’t just for show, it’s a crucial survival trait for many, especially those who live deep in the ocean where sunlight can’t reach. Now let’s take a look at five amazing creatures that glow in the dark. 1. Firefly Squid Every year, between March and May, the waters of the Toyama Bay in Japan come alive with a brilliant deep-blue glow. This is the work of the firefly squids or sparkling enope squids who are able to do this thanks to their light-producing organ called photophores, flashing this captivating light either on and off in unison, or in various patterns. Firefly squids rely heavily on their light for many reasons including to entice prey, to confuse predators about their shape, or to attract mates during the months listed above. 2. Cookiecutter Shark The cookiecutter shark is a relatively small species, measuring only 22 inches in length. Like the firefly squid, cookiecutter sharks also have the bioluminescent organ called photophores that are located on the densest underside of their body. The resulting glow not only attracts prey, but also allows the shark to camouflage itself by eliminating any surrounding shadows and combining the dim light filtering from the sky, effectively blurring out the shark’s familiar outline. It should also be mentioned that cookiecutter sharks get their name from biting out chunks of flesh from their prey. Round, deep wounds the size of cookies. 3. Arachnocampa Gnats Endemic to New Zealand is a species of fungus gnat called the arachnocampa gnat or more commonly, the New Zealand glowworm. They can be found on both the North and South islands, specifically in damp overgrown places such as wet caves, grottoes and humid forests, as well as the banks of lakes and rivers. However, the most famous sighting of these gnats is in a cave known as Waitomo, where they cling to just about every surface including the ceilings and walls, making what would be an otherwise dark place a magical setting filled with green-blue lights. 4. Sea Sapphire Unlike the other creatures on this list, the sea sapphire or Sapphirina doesn’t glow, it sparkles! These tiny and transparent parasitic crustacean gives off a wide array of colors of light including gold and blue, depending on the particular species. But this ability is only tied to the males who, as scientists believe, use it as an attractor for females. And their lights are very short-lived, appearing only in an instant. One minute, there’s an incredible shade of blue, and the next, it’s gone. 5. Clusterwink Snail Clusterwink snails are one of the most interesting species of snail out there. At night, the shell of these snails flicker and glow with an enchanting blue-green light which they flash as a form of self-defense whenever they’re touched. This light lasts only a few seconds, and is actually produced from a single, mushy spot in the snail’s body that is then amplified and scattered in every direction by its conical shell. The suddenness of this light temporarily confuses predators, but also unintentionally attracts others as well.

The Amazing Glowing Creatures in the Animal Kingdom

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