Fluorescent, Benthic, Pacific Coast Coelenterates

Abstract

ORANGE fluorescing pigments have been studied extensively in red algae^1,2, where the fluorescence becomes apparent in the moribund plant; but such pigments would appear to be rare in the animal kingdom (see Klüver³ for evidence of a red-fluorescing pigment in mammals). At depths greater than 10 m. where sunlight becomes deficient in the longer orange and red wave-lengths, divers have sometimes observed brilliantly luminous orange and red animals. Marden⁴ noted the phenomenon while photographing a large unidentified anemone in the Red Sea at 20 m., and suggested the animal might have a fluorescent pigment. Our investigations show that certain animals do indeed possess the ability to fluoresce.