Scientists studying sharks off the coast of New Zealand have discovered that three deep-sea species glow in the dark.
One of the sharks is so big it is now the largest-known luminous vertebrate.
Bioluminescence is the technical name for a animal that glows in the dark. It is a chemical reaction that is widespread among marine life. However, it is the first time it has been documented in kitefin shark, the blackbelly lanternshark, and the southern lanternshark.
The sharks were collected during a fish survey off the east coast of New Zealand in January 2020.
All of the the sharks live in what is known as the mesopelagic or “twilight” zone of the ocean. This is between 200 and 1,000 metres deep, beyond which sunlight does not penetrate.
Researchers suggest the glowing underbellies may help camouflage them from any threats that might strike from beneath.
16 Responses
Wow that’s a amazing and scary at the same time ?
wow!
wow!
glowing sharks how know
wow
wow
this is so cool
wow amazing
this story is cool
Wow Sharks can light up that’s weird. and camouflaging from there enemies’ they truly are dangerous. And in new Zealand’s they could be somewhere else.
Wow!
how did it happen
last weekend I went down to Papamoa and there was one of these sharks on the other side of the wave when I was swimming dad yelled SHARK GET OUT OF THE WATER I ran out of the water
wow
wow that is amazimg
So interesting
wow