【 Splitfin flashlight fish  Anomalops katoptron】

【Splitfin flashlight fish  Anomalops katoptron】

Splitfin flashlight fish are found in the western and central Pacific Ocean. It is generally found in shallow waters, near drop-offs and caves 300–400 m in depth.

Splitfin flashlight fish is a nocturnal species.  It tends to tuck itself in the crevices between reefs and  rocks to avoids sunlight. During night, it seeks prey, primarily zooplankton, in dark areas.

Its body is brownish black and the color of its fin is relatively light.

Splitfin flashlight fish has two bean shaped organs under its eyes containing bioluminescent bacteria, which the fish can turn on and off by blinking.
There are blood vessels at the surface of light organs, it is believed that the bacteria can gain nutrition from its blood.

There are three possibilities about the purpose of glow-blinking: To catch prey in the dark, to communicate with other fish, and to confuse predators.
Its body shape is long and a little flat. Adults can reach up to 35 cm in length.

Glow In The Dark
In the deep ocean without sunlight,
a group of glowing creatures use light for different purposes,
such as predation, courtship and communication.
Dive into the National Pingtung Marine Biology and Aquarium and open up your infinite imagination of the deep sea.

【comb jellies Ctenophora】

【comb jellies Ctenophora】

Comb jelly, commonly known as sea walnut, is not the common jellyfish as we know. Jellyfish is in the phylum Cnidaria, while comb jelly is in the phylum Ctenophora. So far, about 150 species has been validated, yet still many remain unknown. Ctenophores are widely distributed, they are found from the surface waters to the ocean depths. 

In the figure below, its mouth (the "oral pole" ) is on top of the body. 

Ctenophores have a wide range of body plan,  some are egg-shaped, some are flat,  and most of them are transparent, radially symmetrical, and hermaphrodites.

Many ctenophores have two long tentacles, but some lack tentacles completely. Unlike most jellyfish (Cnidaria), Ctenophores do not sting. They have colloblasts, which are sticky, on their tentacles instead.

The opposite end is the aboral pole. There is a balance sensor supported by 4 bundles of cilia in the center of the aboral pole.

Comb jellies are notable for the cilia they use for swimming (commonly referred to as "combs"). The comb rows of most planktonic ctenophores produce a rainbow effect, which is not caused by bioluminescence but by the scattering of light (refraction) as the combs move.

Most species are also bioluminescent, but the light is usually blue or green and can only be seen in darkness. In ctenophores, bioluminescence is caused by the activation of calcium-activated proteins.

Glow In The Dark
In the deep ocean without sunlight,
a group of glowing creatures use light for different purposes,
such as predation, courtship and communication.
Dive into the National Pingtung Marine Biology and Aquarium and open up your infinite imagination of the deep sea.