E.Widder/Harbor
Branch Oceanographic Institution * 1999 |
There has been some debate in the past about whether or not cephalopods
actually bioluminesce. Past studies have speculated that observed
luminescence is due to reasons ranging from infection due to luminous bacteria
to reflection of ambient light by iridophores. (8)
However, it has since been reported that at least some octopods possess
a circumoral organ which has the ability to luminesce significantly in
conditions that eliminate any type of outside luminescence. It should
be noted that this organ is only present in the female gender of the species
studied (Eledonella pygmaea and Japetella diaphana).
This fact points to the conclusion that bioluminescence is advantagous
in the mating
behavior of octopods. |
