User:Cassidypoodle/Siphamia tubifer

Siphamia tubifer is a bacterially luminous species of cardinalfish, using the bacterium P.mandapamensis as its source of bioluminescence. The fish is thought to acquire the bacteria through ingestion of seawater, only after its light organ has mostly developed (Dunlap et.al. 2012). The luminescence system primarily consists of a ventral light organ, holding the bacteria, and a shutter lens in the abdomen. The fish can open and close this shutter at will, controlling the light that emits (Dunlap et.al. 2011). One study showed that at twilight, S. tubifer left its urchin and luminesced to attract and feed on zooplankton near the bottom. Once completely dark again, it stopped emitting light and returned (Dunlap et.al. 2011).

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Bioluminescence

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Siphamia tubifer is a bacterially luminous species of cardinalfish, using the bacterium P.mandapamensis as its source of bioluminescence. The fish is thought to acquire the bacteria through ingestion of seawater, only after its light organ has mostly developed (Dunlap et.al. 2012). The luminescence system primarily consists of a ventral light organ, holding the bacteria, and a shutter lens in the abdomen. The fish can open and close this shutter at will, controlling the light that emits (Dunlap et.al. 2011). One study showed that at twilight, S. tubifer left its urchin and luminesced to attract and feed on zooplankton near the bottom. Once completely dark again, it stopped emitting light and returned (Dunlap et.al. 2011).