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How to Identify Two Marine Animals That Glow in the Dark

The most familiar glow-in-the dark creature is certainly the lightning bug, which uses a phenomenon called bioluminescence. This is rare among land animals, but widespread throughout marine life. In fact, most groups of marine animals have members that glow in the dark. Some marine animals generate their own light through bioluminescence, while others store luminescent bacteria in their body. Two identifiable glow-in-the-dark marine animals are the Caribbean brittle star and the pine-cone fish of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Scuba diving gear
Dive light

Instructions

- 1
  Go scuba diving at night. Night diving provides the best opportunity for viewing and identifying glow-in-the dark marine animals. Find a shallow site with a sandy bottom and cover your dive light to allow for darkness.
- 2
  Find a habitat in which the Caribbean brittle star or the pine-cone fish lives. The brittle star lives along the reef crest, fore-reef slope and coral rubble. Look for "hairy" coral where groups of brittle stars congregate. The pine-cone fish is most active at night, and travels in schools at depths between 30 meters and 250 meters. If not in open water, you can find it in crevices, caves and overhangs.
- 3
  Identify the Caribbean brittle star or the pine-cone fish. The Caribbean brittle star has six-inch arms that detract when light is shined on them, making it difficult to spot. When you touch the star, however, the brittle star glows intensely. The pine-cone fish is generally three inches to six inches long and is covered with large scales in a pattern similar to a pine cone. Both sides of the fish's lower jaw are equipped with light-emitting organs that vary in color from yellow to blue-green.