Amazing Marine Animals (Superb photographs)

In 1761, one scientific expedition consists of three scientists, artists, doctors and servants sailed to the North Sea under the order of King of Danish. One day, a strange glow as large as a coin size was observed in the sea. This creature radiated bright green phosphoric light. It was then identified as a jellyfish and was written in Latin in the diary.

Indeed, these jellyfish had been a great mystery of the ocean at that moment.

These jellyfish have an extraordinary ability to glow “a little live fire” or bioluminescence to adapt themselves dwelling deep beneath the sea floor. Their glow can reach as high as 80-90%. This is considered extremely high as the most efficient light can only convert to only 10-15% of the energy. Luminescence is no doubt, another great feature that has made up a significant portion of the wonderful life in the oceans.

There are currently 700- 800 know species of bioluminescent. They include unicellular eukaryotic organisms (radiolyarii, dinoflagellyaty), bacteria, mushrooms and multicellular invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans, mollusks, insects and etc.)

Among he invertebrates of the luminous species, cephalopoda mollusks (cuttlefish and squids), turnicates as well as kishechnopolostnye (deep-sea jellyfish, soft corals) have been well documented as the great marine creatures.

The deep-sea marine creatures need a luminescence for their survival. In the depths of the sea, in which the sunlight is hardly penetrate, and thus there’s an eternal darkness. Within this harsh survival environment, no photosynthetic plants are being found, and the creatures dwelling here have very little food to feed on. This explains why the marine creatures have to carry along the “head lamp” to help attract their prey. A hatchet fish, for example, has an extraordinary “head lamp” that can lure its prey easily.

This “head lamp” is always confused by the small animals as the night butterflies that attract them to swim near.

My other related articles:

Exploring the most incredible world of sea aliens of the deep

The spookiest deep sea marine animals

Odd-looking marine animals

You can read more of my works at ScienceQuest