Light production by the arm tips of the deep-sea cephalopod Vampyroteuthis infernalis

Biol Bull. 2003 Oct;205(2):102-9. doi: 10.2307/1543231.

Abstract

The archaic, deep-sea cephalopod Vampyroteuthis infernalis occurs in dark, oxygen-poor waters below 600 m off Monterey Bay, California. Living specimens, collected gently with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and quickly transported to a laboratory ashore, have revealed two hitherto undescribed means of bioluminescent expression for the species. In the first, light is produced by a new type of organ located at the tips of all eight arms. In the second, a viscous fluid containing microscopic luminous particles is released from the arm tips to form a glowing cloud around the animal. Both modes of light production are apparently linked to anti-predation strategies. Use of the tip-lights is readily educed by contact stimuli, while fluid expulsion has a much higher triggering threshold. Coelenterazine and luciferase are the chemical precursors of light production. This paper presents observations on the structure and operation of the arm-tip light organs, the character of the luminous cloud, and how the light they produce is incorporated into behavioral patterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Firefly Luciferin / metabolism
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Luciferases / physiology
  • Luminescent Measurements*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mollusca / physiology*
  • Mollusca / ultrastructure
  • Pacific Ocean

Substances

  • Firefly Luciferin
  • Luciferases