Tiny Fish Use Bacteria to Glow in the Dark | National Geographic | Summary and Q&A

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August 19, 2019
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National Geographic
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Tiny Fish Use Bacteria to Glow in the Dark | National Geographic

TL;DR

This video showcases the mesmerizing sight of thousands of bioluminescent Flashlight Fish in the Solomon Islands, revealing their unique abilities and behavior in the dark depths of the ocean.

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Key Insights

  • 🩵 Flashlight Fish in the Solomon Islands create a stunning display of thousands of blue, blinking bioluminescent lights, making it a rare and unique sighting.
  • 🏘️ Flashlight Fish possess a subocular bioluminescent organ under their eyes that houses bioluminescent bacteria, which they use for feeding and movement.
  • 🔦 Flashlight Fish are highly sensitive to light and only come out in the dark to avoid being preyed upon by larger predators.
  • 🔦 Flashlight Fish utilize their bioluminescent light to confuse and evade predators by performing a quick "blink and run" maneuver.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What did the diver experience when they followed the safety diver?

The diver witnessed an extraordinary sight of thousands of blue, blinking bioluminescent lights created by Flashlight Fish in a mesmerizing display.

Q: How do Flashlight Fish protect themselves from predators?

Flashlight Fish are sensitive to light and are easily preyed upon, so they evolve to have bioluminescent bacteria under their eyes to create a bright light that confuses and disorients predators.

Q: Why do Flashlight Fish school?

Flashlight Fish are part of the 25% of fish species that school, which provides them safety in numbers and makes it difficult for predators to target individual fish.

Q: What makes Flashlight Fish unique among other fish species?

Flashlight Fish are one of only nine known species that have a specialized relationship with bioluminescent bacteria, which they harvest in their eye structures.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • A diver is guided by another diver to a reef where they witness an incredible spectacle of thousands of blue, blinking bioluminescent lights created by Flashlight Fish.

  • Flashlight Fish possess a subocular bioluminescent organ under their eyes which houses bioluminescent bacteria that emit light.

  • These fish use their light for feeding and maneuvering in schools to confuse and evade predators.

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