Fish bioluminescence: Distinctive flashing patterns might facilitate fish mating
Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - 08:32
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have shown for the first time that deep-sea fishes that use bioluminescence for communication are diversifying into different species faster than other glowing fishes that use light for camouflage. The new research indicates that bioluminescence -- a phenomenon in which animals generate visible light through a chemical reaction -- could promote communication and mating in the open ocean, an environment with few barriers to reproduction.