Pop Up Image Details: Deep Space Deep Sea Cover Natural Phenomenons Images 1. Paraphyllina 2. Aequorea 3. Myctophid 4. Tomopteris 5. Aglantha 6. Gaussia 7. Idiacanthus 8. Japetella "For all of you who like to geek out on details, here's what's featured in the pop ups! : 1. Paraphyllina The deep sea medusa Paraphyllina has a crimson pigment which may help mask bioluminescence of organisms which it has eaten (Diameter approx. 7cm) 2. Aequorea Also called the crystal jelly, Graceful and nearly transparent, these jellies have long, delicate tentacles. When disturbed, they give off a green-blue glow because of more than 100 tiny, light-producing organs surrounding its outer bell. They can expand their mouths when feeding to swallow jellies half their size. TheyÕre harvested for their luminescent aequorin, used in neurological and biological experiments to detect calcium. 3. Myctophid Also called Lanternfish, (not to be confused with anglerfish), are among the most numerous fish in the sea. Any of about 300 species of small deep-sea bony fish. They are less than 15 cm/6 in long, with a large mouth, large eyes, and many luminous organs along the underside of the body, the function of which is not understood. They have species-specific patterns to the distribution of their light organs, leading some to suggest that they must be used to recognize potential mates. Whether or not this is true, they likely use their luminescence for counterillumination as well.They feed on plankton. 4. Tomopteris The polychaete Tomopteris is one of the only marine creatures that makes yellow luminescence. When disturbed, a flurry of glowing sparks will erupt from the parapodia (the paddle-like structures). A genus of transparent marine annelids which swim actively at the surface of the sea. They have deeply divided or forked finlike organs (parapodia). 5. Aglantha This small hydromedusa in the genus Aglantha is bioluminescent, but the blue and purple colors in this photo are formed by iridescence of thin tissues in its bell. The thickness of the tissue and angle of light striking it can cause bright colors to show up, similar to what happens with the ctenophore Beroe, although produced by a different mechanism. The orange color near the mouth is pigmentation, probably to mask luminescence or attract prey. 6. Gaussia Gaussia is a giant in the world of copepods. While most copepods may be a millimeter or two, this specimen was 27mm across the antennae. Not only are they large and very hardy, but these pigmented copepods produce some of the brightest bioluminescent displays. They eject puffs of light when they do an escape flip. 7. Idiacanthus The Pacific Black Dragonfish (Idiacanthus antrostomus) is one of the most amazingly bioluminescent animals in the sea. It is covered with photophores along lower and upper surfaces, and has photophores under its eyes and at the end of a long barbel. When disturbed it lights up all over, even down the lengths of its fins. 8. Japetella This little octopod in the genus Japetella uses its bioluminescence in a unique way. Because light is produced only at certain times, by a ring around the mouth of females, it is thought to be private signal used in mating. The blue iridescence at the top right of the photo is not bioluminescence. Thanks: The Bioluminescence Web Page myspace.com/o1o