Insanely Beautiful Pictures Of Bioluminescent Creatures
Out of all the fascinating adaptations evolution has thrown at animals,
bioluminescence has to be one of the most beautiful.
Bioluminescent creatures are able to produce their own light through their unique biology
and whether they're under the sea or on land, they're always brilliant.
ADORABLE BOBTAIL SQUID
I absolutely adore cephalopods (squids and octopi), and bobtail squids are one of my favorites. They're tiny and adorable and they have the most beautiful bioluminescent light patterns.
BRIGHT BLUE DINOFLAGELLATES
Dinoflagellates are one of the types of teeny tiny creatures that make up plankton. This species reacts to being disturbed by lighting up. This results in bright blue glowing waves when they crash on the beach and, as can be seen in the picture, glowing footprints.
GREEN FIREFLY BABIES
I know the proper term is "larva," but a bug this cute deserves a cute name for its offspring.
STUNNING GALACTIC SQUAD
The incredible bioluminescent patterns on this adorable squid's face look like the nighttime sky.
EERIE GLASS SQUID
The gorgeous glass squid looks extremely eerie, and a bit like Cthulhu mixed with the Martians from 'Mars Attacks!'
BLUE NUDIBRANCH
Nudibranchs are closely related to snails and sea slugs, and they're often beautifully colored. This one is Janolus cristatus, and it looks like it's covered in glowing crystals.
COLORFUL COMB JELLY
This colorful guy is also known as a sea walnut (which is a lot less cool of a name). They're like a living light show, and are incredible to watch.
SEE-THROUGH LARVAL LEAF SCORPIONFISH
The Leaf Scorpionfish is a camouflaged fish that blends in with its environment. The larval stage of the Leaf Scorpionfish is see-through and looks like this.
MAGIC MUSHROOMS
They're not that kind of magic mushroom. They just seem magical (or toxic) because of their eerie green glow.
THE 'ALIEN' GLOWWORM
This is the Phengodidae beetle's larva, commonly known as a glowworm. It looks just like the chestburster from the 'Alien' franchise.
LUMINOUS SEA ANGEL
This species of swimming sea slug has developed wing-like flaps. Coupled with their warm amber light, they're quite eerily beautiful to see floating around.
SHEDDING DEEP SEA CUCUMBER
The deep sea cucumber Enypniastes eximia has an extremely unique defense mechanism. When threatened, it sheds its bioluminescent skin and throws it at the threat, disorienting them.
BEAUTIFUL BLUE SEA HORSE
I love that the bioluminescent pattern on the Hippocampus erectus, a species of sea horse, looks like electricity.
ADORABLE SEA SLUG
This little guy is a Coryphella verrucosa, an adorable species of bioluminescent sea slug.
THE CUTEST ROUNDBELLY COWFISH
This little guy is probably my favorite on this list (despite my love for cephalopods) and the fact that he's not truly bioluminescent. I mean, look at him! He's see-through and glows and the absolute cutest creature out there.
