bioluminescence
- Thread starter green_fox
- Start date
Liberated from: Scripps Institution of Oceanography...
Are bioluminescent animals found only in the ocean?
Luminescent land animals are relatively rare. If you live east of the U.S. continental divide you may be familiar with the dusk displays of fireflies during the summer. There are so-called railroad worms in South and Central America, which are actually beetle larvae. Their name comes from the rows of green and red lights coming from each body segment. Some mushrooms glow, as does a land snail from Malaysia, and some earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, and nematodes. With the exception of one animal related to a clam, there are essentially no luminescent freshwater animals. So in general bioluminescence on land and in freshwater is rare compared to its occurrence in the ocean.
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http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/46/bioluminescence.html
Are bioluminescent animals found only in the ocean?
Luminescent land animals are relatively rare. If you live east of the U.S. continental divide you may be familiar with the dusk displays of fireflies during the summer. There are so-called railroad worms in South and Central America, which are actually beetle larvae. Their name comes from the rows of green and red lights coming from each body segment. Some mushrooms glow, as does a land snail from Malaysia, and some earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, and nematodes. With the exception of one animal related to a clam, there are essentially no luminescent freshwater animals. So in general bioluminescence on land and in freshwater is rare compared to its occurrence in the ocean.
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http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/46/bioluminescence.html
Cool Stuff..
So would many of the cephalopods be considered bioluminescent? Or is that just their ability to change color.. I think some squids glow, don't they?
Very interesting thread..
So would many of the cephalopods be considered bioluminescent? Or is that just their ability to change color.. I think some squids glow, don't they?
Very interesting thread..
I can imagine that in a cave system somewhere there are freshwater aquatic organisms that would have developed some form of bioluminescence.
Just waiting to be discovered.
Of course that water might be more like acid than freshwater!
Just waiting to be discovered.
Of course that water might be more like acid than freshwater!