Luminous Organs
GUIDED BY:- PRESENTED BY
MISS . SONIYA KASHYAP SEEMA VISHWAKARMA
[Link]. (ZOOLOGY) IV SEM
Contents
Introduction
Structure of Luminous Organ
Types
Control
Biological Significance.
Introduction
A number of fishes especially marine species are
known to produce characteristic light through their
special organs called luminous organs. These
organs are commonly found in fishes living in deep-
sea where the sunlight ceases to enter. The
luminous organs are absent in freshwater fishes.
The most important function of bioluminescence is
to illuminate surroundings for the purpose of
camouflage, schooling and for recognition of
movement of predators in the water. The luminous
organs or photophores are special gland cells of the
epidermis. Their distribution on the body type and
adaptive value may vary in different species of
Structure of Luminous
Organs:
On the basis of anatomy of photophores they may be categorized
in two types:
1. Simple Photophore:
They are small in size, about 0.1 to 0.34 mm in width. It consists of
light generating cells called as photocytes. Simple type may be
provided with or without mantle of pigment. The lenses are formed
by grouping of cells known as lenticular cells.
The distal part of photocyte is provided with acidophilic granules. A
layer of melanophres surrounds the photophore. Simple type of
photophores is present in sharks. In Stomias the luminous organs
are logged in gelatinous corium of the epidermis.
[Link] Photophore:
This type of photophores consists of
additional structures like reflectors,
pigmented mantle and sub-ocular organs.
The latter one is a large organ deeply
embedded in dermal tissue. The
photocytes are arranged in the form of
cords and bands.
Photogenic tissue, pigment and reflector
layers are provided with nerves and blood
vessels (Fig. 18.1). The photogenic
tissues are found in the centre of the
photophore and consist of two types of
The mechanism
glandular cells. of light production is peculiar in fishes and takes place
the special sets of muscles present around the photocytes. When these
muscles contract, they pulls the outer surface of photophore downwards
causing brighter surface to be concealed. In contrast the relaxation of
these muscles exposes bright surface of the photophores. In some
species, movement of pigmented layer carries out concealing and
Types of Luminous Organs
On the basis of source of illumination it may be
classified as follows:
Luminous Organs
EXTRA CELLULAR
LUMINESCENCE
CHEMICAL
LUMINESCENCE
INTRACELLULAR
LUMINESCENCE BACTERIAL
LUMINESCENCE
Control of luminous Organs:
The function of light producing organs is controlled by the
nervous or endocrine system.
1. Nervous Control: 2. Hormonal Control:
Several workers have It has been reported that
reported that light some fishes have hormonal
production by the luminous
control on the photophores.
organs is controlled by the
nervous system, probably by Endocrine gland like supra
the peripheral sympathetic renal activate them.
system. The nerves innervate Adrenalin or noradrenalin is
the phagocytes. The efferent
known to control light
nerves enter the photogenic
cells and activate them. emission from the
3. Mechanical
The Control:
muscles present beneath
the photophores contract and
rotate the photophores in such a
way that they get concealed.
Thus fish is prevented from
illumination specially when in
danger.
In Photoblepharon palpebratus
the ventral part of luminous
organ has a fold of black tissue
(Fig. 18.2). This fold can be
drawn over the photophores and
conceal the light. In some fishes
the light production is also
supposed to be influenced by
Biological Significance of
Luminous Organs
This is useful in variety of ways in marine fishes specially in deep-
sea fishes.
Illuminates Surroundings As Defensive Device:
Some fishes utilizes their luminous Many fishes produce sudden flash of light
organs to illuminate their from their luminous organs, which helps
surroundings in the event of in diverting the attention of their
dimness. Thus they become able to predators. The emission of light facilitates
search their prey in the dark an escape of fish by puzzling the enemy.
waters. Some species (stomiatoid) Alepocephalidae produce a glowing spark,
are able to emit beam of light from which confuses the predator for a spur of
the specially designed luminous moment, and help the fish to escape.
cheek organ to catch the small However, some fishes uses luminous
creatures like planktons. The cheek organs to enable them inconspicuous. In
organs of Anamalops produce light doing so they illuminate their ventral
3. As a Warning Signal:
A number of fishes uses its luminous organ to warn the
predators. For instance, the midshipman Porichthys
that possesses, a toxic sign, flashes light when it is
attacked by a predatory fish and avoids the danger
(Fig. 18.3).
[Link] OWN SPECIES:
Every species has a unique arrangement and
distribution of photophores on their body,
which help the fish to recognize species of
same type and thus help in schooling
behaviour. The luminous organs are also
helpful in recognizing the mates for
courtship, as the light organs
Malemay be
lantern-fish has one or many
different both in male and [Link] present above but both in the
female possesses it below the caudal
peduncle. In some species the size of
luminous organ is different in both sexes.
For example in many species of
melanostommiatidae, the postorbital
PRESENTED BY
SEEMA VISHWAKARMA
[Link]. (ZOOLOGY) IV SEM