In Photos: Glowing Seafloor Creatures of the Caribbean

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By Live Science Staff
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Glowing Eyes

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

The giant deep-sea isopod (Bathynomus giganteus) can grow to a whopping 16 inches (41 centimeters) and sports magnificent compound eyes. Here, light reflects off the eyes' so-called tapetum, a reflective tissue behind the retina.

Glowing Spew

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

The researchers found two shrimp species that spew bioluminescence as a way to escape predators. Here, in a lab image, a caridean shrimp, Parapandalus species, enveloped in bioluminescent spew emitted during an escape response.

UV Vision

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

The deep-sea squat lobster/crab called Eumunida picta was found to have a UV-sensitive visual pigment, which would allow the organism to see UV light. Since no UV light from the sun can penetrate to the depths where these creatures live, they must be adapted to seeing bioluminescence, the researchers said.

Caribbean Crab

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

Another squat lobster, Gastroptychus spinifer, is equipped with both UV-sensitive and blue-sensitive visual pigments. Shown here, the squat lobster/crab surrounded by brittle stars, which are also called Ophiuroids – a large group of echinoderms that includes the brittle stars and basket stars.

UV Vision in Crab

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

Gastroptychus spinifer (squat lobster) has a body that is about 1/2-inch wide and 1-inch long. Its eyes are quite large for such a small animal.

Leggy Crab

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

The squat lobster G. spinifer on the coral Gerardia.

Glowing Anemone

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Sonke Johnsen, Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

Sea-anemone-glowing.jpg: Bioluminescent mucus secreted from the venus fly trap anemone (Actinoscyphia sp.).

Bioluminescent Brittle Star

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Sonke Johnsen, Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

Bioluminescence of the ophiuroid Ophiochiton ternispinus, a species of brittle star, found at a depth of 3,000 feet.

Bamboo Coral

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Sonke Johnsen, Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

Glowing bamboo coral (Isidella sp.) found on the Caribbean seafloor.

Glowing Plankton

bioluminescent creatures of the caribbean sea.

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

Picture of the bioluminescence of the deep-sea zoanthid Gerardia, along with the bioluminescence of an unknown planktonic animal (as shot from the submersible). Notice how the planktonic light is bluer.

Glowing Shrimp

a glowing shrimp

(Image credit: Image courtesy of Bioluminescence Team 2009, NOAA-OER.)

This caridean shrimp (Parapandalus sp.) spews light as a defense mechanism.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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