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  • Ocean Sciences Supplement
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Bioluminescence of marine organisms

Nature volume 267, pages 788–793 (1977)Cite this article

Luminescence is a feature common to many marine organisms. Certain squid and fish utilise luminous bacteria as symbiotic sources of light, and the symbionts have physiological features which are of potential advantage in the association. The luciferins of some marine fishes, squids, crustaceans and coelenterates are of very similar chemical structure, though differing markedly from the luciferins of non-marine forms. Luminescence in many marine animals is probably used for ventral camouflage purposes.

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  1. Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey, UK

    Peter J. Herring

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Herring, P. Bioluminescence of marine organisms. Nature 267, 788–793 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/267788a0

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