Photophore

Photophore

A photophore is a light-emitting organ which appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors [http://tolweb.org/accessory/Cephalopod_Photophore_Terminology?acc_id=2015] . The light can be produced from compounds during the digestion of prey, from specialized mitochondrial cells in the organism, called photocytes ("light producing" cells) , or, similarly, associated with symbiotic bacteria in the organism that is cultured.

The character of photophores is important in the identification of benthic fishes.

Photophores on fish are mainly used for attracting food or confusing predators.

Photophores are also on some Cephalopods, most notably the Firefly Squid (also known as the Sparkling Enope Squid) which can create large light displays.

In medicine, the photophore is an instrument (a type of endoscope) used to observe internal organs and tissues.

Compare: chemoluminescence, bioluminescence, biophoton

References

# [http://tolweb.org/accessory/Cephalopod_Photophore_Terminology?acc_id=2015 Photo, diagram and description of a cephalopod photophore]


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  • photophore — [ fɔtɔfɔr ] n. m. • 1803; de photo et phore 1 ♦ Techn. Lampe munie d un réflecteur. Mineur portant un photophore à son casque. 2 ♦ Coupe décorative en verre, destinée à recevoir une bougie ou une veilleuse. 3 ♦ Anat. Organe lumineux des animaux… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Photophore — Pho to*phore, n. [Photo + Gr. fe rein to bear.] 1. (Med.) A form of endoscope using an electric light. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A light emitting organ; specif., one of the luminous spots on certain marine (mostly deep sea) fishes.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • photophore — [fōt′ə fôr΄] n. [ PHOTO + PHORE] a light organ in bioluminescent animals containing reflective tissue and light producing cells …   English World dictionary

  • Photophore — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Photophore (du grec phôs, phôtos signifiant lumière et pherein signifiant porter) signifie porte lumière. En décoration d intérieur, un photophore est une …   Wikipédia en Français

  • photophore — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1898 a light emitting organ; especially one of the luminous spots on various marine mostly deep sea fishes …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • photophore — a light producing organ. Light may be produced from compounds produced by the fish itself or from prey it has ingested, or by symbiotic bacteria. The organ may be simple or variously equipped with reflectors, lenses, shutters, etc., e.g. in… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • photophore — n. [Gr. phos, light; pherein, to bear] A light producing organ of certain marine Hydrozoa, Crustacea and Cephalopoda …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • photophore — /foh teuh fawr , fohr /, n. Zool. a luminous organ found in certain fishes and crustaceans. [1880 85; PHOTO + PHORE] * * * ▪ anatomy       light emitting organ present in fireflies and certain other bioluminescent animals. Photophores are… …   Universalium

  • photophore — noun A light emitting organ, found in some fish and other marine animals …   Wiktionary

  • photophore — In bacteriology, the organ producing intracellular bioluminescence in certain organisms. [photo + G. phoros, bearing] …   Medical dictionary

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