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A New Type of Luminescence in Fishes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

C. F. Hickling
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Extract

A luminous organ of a hitherto undescribed type has been found in a Macrurid fish. This organ is described in the present paper. It consists essentially of an epithelium for the secretion of luminous substance, which has been thrown into long folds and wholly invaginated to form a gland. This gland is bound in connective tissue and has a compact appearance, and is furnished with supporting tissue internally. The duct is a flat and wide passage, continuous with the gland, which opens to the exterior about the anus in such a way as to surround the lower part of the rectum. The gland lies in the thickness of the body-wall forward of the rectum and between and behind the pelvic fins.

The nature of the secretion is discussed and some experiments described. The luminescence appears to be due not to bacteria living as guests within the tissues of the fish, as has been shown for other species, but is essentially due to the well-known reaction wherein a substance luciferin is burnt to oxyluciferin in presence of the ferment luciferase, with emission of cold light.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , October 1925 , pp. 914 - 937
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1925

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References

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