PISCES GORGEOUS GLOW NOW

DANTÉ FENOLIO

Some of the most beautiful fish in the world glow. To celebrate all of the Pisces who celebrate in the 1st half of the month of March, we are featuring magnificent glowing fish photos, by Danté Fenolio, PhD., as well as new findings about bioluminescence.

Some fish flash brilliant colors, while others signal with soft pale light. They have each developed different adaptations to their dark environment, in the deep sea, where sunlight cannot reach.

Fenolio has been fascinated by fish and other sea creatures since he was a child. His father imported fish for the aquarium industry. Fenolio also spent summers working for a biologist in the Amazon Basin as well as in central Brazil. It was there that he developed a passion for fish and other living things that live in darkness.

Fenolio has spent countless hours in the dark, patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to capture the light of the glowing fish.

Fenolio participated in the DEEPEND (Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamic of the Gulf of Mexico) Consortium, which aims to discover and document animals that live in the deep sea, where the fish glow.

DEEPEND is creating the first baseline data of deep water ecosystems which will be an invaluable resource as our oceans are subject to the effects of climate change, oil spills and other negative impacts.

“Life in the Dark: Illuminating Biodiversity in the Shadowy Haunts of Planet Earth,” Fenolio's recently published book, showcases these rarely seen bioluminescent sea-life. The book includes over 300 full color photos, taken in remote locations in southern China, Thailand, to name a few.

Fenolio conducted long research expeditions into caves and accompanied scientists out at sea to get his shots.

Because he uses flash when he takes his photos, the coloring appears brighter than it does deep down in the sea. And the images are spectacular.

Check out Fenolio’s Facebook and his many projects at the San Antonio Zoo, where he serves as vice president of conservation and research.

Bioluminescence is caused by a chemical reaction within a living organism's body that produces light. It can help fish to communicate, attract mates, confuse predators, and lure prey.

FLASHLIGHT FISH

The flashlight fish (Anomalops katoptron) uses bioluminescent light to detect and feed on its planktonic prey, according to a new study recently published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Scientists discovered that the flashlight fish hosts bacteria that use a chemical reaction to make the "flashlights" under this fish's eyes.

TWILIGHT ZONE: DEEP REEFS

Check out the Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs, a new aquarium exhibit to feature rarely seen species and highlight the Academy's deep reef exploration.

Visitors can create their own digital light show through immersive interactives that illustrate how bioluminescent marine life, from flashlight fish to tiny microorganisms, use light to communicate in the darkness.

Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed brings to life one part of the Academy’s bold and expansive coral reef initiative, to help highlight the beauty and importance of fish and all sea life.

Read more about Beautiful March in Images & Idea About the Beauty of March Wind Now.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “The Bicolor Dottyback and Blue-eye Royal Dottyback.”
2. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Bicolor Dottybacks.”
3. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “A Square Pink Anthias.”
4. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Flashing Tilefish.”
5. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Amazon River Catfish.”
6. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Blue-spotted Jawfishes.” From “Life in the Dark: Illuminating Biodiversity in the Shadowy Haunts of Planet Earth.” Courtesy of Johns Hopkins University Press.
7. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Günther’s Boafish.” From “Life in the Dark: Illuminating Biodiversity in the Shadowy Haunts of Planet Earth.” Courtesy of Johns Hopkins University Press.
8. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Waterfall Climbing Loach.”
9. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Scopelosaurus mauli.” Courtesy of DEEPEND Consortium.
10. Image: by Kenneth Lucas. “Splitfin flashlight fish (Anomalops katoptron).” Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences.
11. Image: Courtesy of Jens Hellinger et al, Ruhr-University. “School of Anomalops katoptron.”
12. Image: by Kathryn Whitney. “Twilight Butterfly Fish.” Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences.
13. Image: by Kathryn Whitney. “The Deep Reef might lie in the darkness, but it still bursts with color.” Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences.
14. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Dragonfish.”
15. Image: by Danté Fenolio. Bioluminescent Squid. From “Life in the Dark: Illuminating Biodiversity in the Shadowy Haunts of Planet Earth,” Courtesy of Johns Hopkins University Press.
16. Image: by BN App - Download now!
17. Image: by Danté Fenolio. “Southern Cave Fish.”