Fish That Uses Light To Attract Prey

The viperfish uses this light organ to attract its prey through a process known as bioluminescence.

Fish that uses light to attract prey.

But the light can also fool larger animals. The anglerfish is a fish of the teleost order lophiiformes ˌ l ɒ f i ɪ ˈ f ɔːr m iː z. Through a chemical process known as bioluminescence this photophore can produce a blue green light similar to that of a firefly on land. Prey are attracted to the light in the same way that a fisherman might use a glowing lure for night fishing.

Finding or attracting prey in the dark ocean dim glowing can be used to attract prey. Eyelight fish images photoblepharon palpebratum stock photos facts showing this fish that produces light to attract its prey scientific classification kingdom. The uses of bioluminescence by animals include counter illumination camouflage mimicry of other animals for example to lure prey and signalling to other individuals of the same species such as to attract mates. The light is also a defense mechanism used to startle predators providing time for the octopus to escape.

In a related adaptation anglerfish are dull gray dark brown or black and are thus not visible either in their own light or in that of similarly luminescent prey 2 some benthic bottom dwelling forms have arm like pectoral fins which the fish use to walk along the ocean floor. The anglerfish uses this appendage like a fishing lure waving it back and forth to attract its prey. Sometimes the prey being lured can be small plankton like those attracted to the bioluminescence around the beak of the stauroteuthis octopus. Animals can use their light to lure prey towards their mouths or even to light up the area nearby so that they can see their next meal a bit better.

Some species of deep sea angler fish lophiiformes may use this light to attract prey while others like the atlantic midshipman porichthys plectrodon may use this light to attract mates. The light is emitted from organs that resemble suckers. Palpebratum binomial name photoblepharon palpebratum br br the eyelight fish. Some anglerfish are notable for extreme sexual dimorphism and sexual symbiosis of the small male with the much larger female.

In fish bioluminescence can occur two different ways. Fish such as the anglerfish use a light organ filled with symbiotic bacteria that dangles from their forehead. It lies still waiting for its hapless prey wanders close enough then gulps it down with lightning speed. Image of sloan s viperfish chauliodus sloani wikipedia public domain image.

The blue green light serves to attract prey and potential mates. It is a bony fish named for its characteristic mode of predation in which a fleshy growth from the fish s head the esca or illicium acts as a lure for other fish. By flashing the light on and off it can be used like a fishing lure to attract smaller fish.