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Article: An illuminating partnership for squid. (glowing squid)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- September 14, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The squid Euprymna scolopes, a denizen of the shallow waters surrounding the Hawaiian archipelago, provides a shining example-literally-of symbiosis in action. The cephalopod's symbiotic partners are the bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri.
These bacteria colonize a specialized cavity called the light organ, located on the squid's underside, and allow the animal to emit a diffuse glow toward the seafloor. The result appears to be counterillumination, which eliminates telltale shadows, thus enabling a variety of fishes and cephalopods to move and hunt undetected at night.
With the aid of its microbial tenants, E. scolopes may "camouflage itself against the ...