Predatory ‘Glow Worm’ Discovered In Peruvian Rainforest (1 Viewer)

[JacksinPA]

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/predatory-glow-worm-discovered-peruvian-rainforest/

For the past 2 nights I've been watching a BBC EARTH video series on Netflix titled WEIRD WONDERS OF THE WORLD (https://www.netflix.com/title/80169785). Two episodes caught my attention as I'm currently studying bioluminescence, the production of light by living creatures.

One episode dealt with siphonophores, marine animals that include the Portugese Man o'War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonophorae). Another dealt with a recently discovered beetle larva in the Peruvian Amazon jungle that emits a constant green light after dark as a lure to draw in & devour other insects with its imposing mandibles. It has yet to be scientifically named as no adult form of this creature has yet been identified.

Other topics covered in the series include the fascinating video of a macaque monkey applying a rough form of CPR to revive another monkey that had been electrocuted in an Indian railway station (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaque).

 

[Skeptic Bob]

Siphonophorae are basically the Voltron of the animal kingdom.

The first time I heard that the Portuguese Man o War was a colony of organisms rather than a single organism I didn’t believe it.

 

[Beaudreaux]

Siphonophorae are basically the Voltron of the animal kingdom.

The first time I heard that the Portuguese Man o War was a colony of organisms rather than a single organism I didn’t believe it.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/bioluminescent-bays-shine-light-on-puerto-ricos-resilience/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/visiting-the-vieques-biobay-1622349

https://islandsofpuertorico.com/la-parguera-bioluminescent-bay/

It's almost impossible to get it show up in a picture, but it looks way cool to the naked eye. One thing that can be seen in a photo is what can happen if you're allergic to it:

 

[Skeptic Bob]

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/bioluminescent-bays-shine-light-on-puerto-ricos-resilience/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/visiting-the-vieques-biobay-1622349

https://islandsofpuertorico.com/la-parguera-bioluminescent-bay/

It's almost impossible to get it show up in a picture, but it looks way cool to the naked eye. One thing that can be seen in a photo is what can happen if you're allergic to it:

I have experienced some marine bioluminescence before, though without stings. I SCUBA and the only time I ever went night diving (I think in the Cayman Islands) I could see the trails of light as I moved my arms through the water. Watching the trails made by the other divers was cool and made the whole thing less scary. And it was scary, floating in an abyss in which you can’t see ANYTHING. Not knowing what is swimming right toward you. Just the sound of your breathing through the regulator and bubbles. EEK.

But the light trails helped take my mind off that. I wish it was safe to SCUBA on shrooms, because that would be awesome to watch.

 

[tecoyah]

Siphonophorae are basically the Voltron of the animal kingdom.

The first time I heard that the Portuguese Man o War was a colony of organisms rather than a single organism I didn’t believe it.

We are ALL a colony of organisms.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43674270

 

[JacksinPA]

My family vacationed in the FL Keys in the late 50s. I recall the shallow water at the shore line was glowing with light emitted by bioluminescent algae. Very neat.

The origin of bioluminesence happened very early in the evolution of life independently in many life forms. When oxygen levels rose at the start of the Cambrian, bacteria had to come up with a mechanism for getting rid of it as they were anaerobic & oxygen was toxic to them. The system that developed used oxygen to oxidize a molecule called luciferin & in the process generate light. The light was put to a number of uses, such as defense, offense & quorum sensing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quorum_sensing