User menu

Accès à distance ? S'identifier sur le proxy UCLouvain

A deepwater fish with ‘lightsabers’ – dorsal spine-associated luminescence in a counterilluminating lanternshark

Primary tabs

download
  • Open access
  • PDF
  • 4.35 M
Claes, Julien [UCL] Dean, Mason N. [Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424 Potsdam, Germany] Nilsson, Dan-Eric [Lund Vision Group, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden] Hart, Nathan S. [The School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia] Mallefet, Jérôme [UCL]

We report the discovery of light organs (photophores) adjacent to the dorsal defensive spines of a small deep-sea lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax). Using a visual modeling based on in vivo luminescence recordings we show that this unusual light display would be detectable by the shark’s potential predators from several meters away. We also demonstrate that the luminescence from the spine-associated photophores (SAPs) can be seen through the mineralized spines, which are partially translucent. These results suggest that the SAPs function, either by mimicking the spines’ shape or by shining through them, as a unique visual deterrent for predators. This conspicuous dorsal warning display is a surprising complement to the ventral luminous camouflage (counterillumination) of the shark.

Document type Article de périodique (Journal article) – Article de recherche
Access type Accès libre
Publication date 2013
Language Anglais
Journal information "Scientific Reports" - Vol. 3, no.1308, p. 1-4 (2013)
Peer reviewed yes
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
issn 2045-2322
e-issn 2045-2322
Publication status Publié
Affiliation UCL - SST/ELI/ELIB - Biodiversity
Links
  1. Shimomura Osamu, Bioluminescence : Chemical Principles and Methods, ISBN:9789812568014, 10.1142/6102
  2. Haddock Steven H.D., Moline Mark A., Case James F., Bioluminescence in the Sea, 10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081028
  3. Herring, P. J. How to survive in the dark: bioluminescence in the deep-sea. Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 39, 323–350 (1985).
  4. Widder E. A., Bioluminescence in the Ocean: Origins of Biological, Chemical, and Ecological Diversity, 10.1126/science.1174269
  5. Denton E. J., Herring P. J., Widder E. A., Latz M. F., Case J. F., The Roles of Filters in the Photophores of Oceanic Animals and their Relation to Vision in the Oceanic Environment, 10.1098/rspb.1985.0051
  6. Herring Peter J, Bioluminescent signals and the role of reflectors, 10.1088/1464-4258/2/6/202
  7. Buck, J. B. in Bioluminescence in Action (ed P. J. Herring) 419–460 (Academic Press, New York, 1978).
  8. CLARKE WILLIAM D., Function of Bioluminescence in Mesopelagic Organisms, 10.1038/1981244a0
  9. Young Richard Edward, Kampa Elizabeth M., Maynard Sherwood D., Mencher Frederick M., Roper Clyde F.E., Counterillumination and the upper depth limits of midwater animals, 10.1016/0198-0149(80)90022-9
  10. McAllister D. E., The Significance of Ventral Bioluminescenee in Fishes, 10.1139/f67-047
  11. Compagno, L., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. A field guide to the sharks of the world (HarperCollins, London, 2005).
  12. MAISEY J. G., Finspine morphogenesis in squalid and heterodontid sharks, 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1979.tb01907.x
  13. Claes J. M., Mallefet J., Hormonal control of luminescence from lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax) photophores, 10.1242/jeb.034363
  14. Claes Julien M., Aksnes Dag L., Mallefet Jérôme, Phantom hunter of the fjords: Camouflage by counterillumination in a shark (Etmopterus spinax), 10.1016/j.jembe.2010.03.009
  15. Claes Julien M., Mallefet Jérôme, Ontogeny of photophore pattern in the velvet belly lantern shark, Etmopterus spinax, 10.1016/j.zool.2009.02.003
  16. Claes, J. M. & Mallefet, J. Functional physiology of lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) luminous pattern: differential hormonal regulation of luminous zones. J. Exp. Biol. 112, 433–441 (2009).
  17. Nilsson Dan-Eric, Warrant Eric J., Johnsen Sönke, Hanlon Roger, Shashar Nadav, A Unique Advantage for Giant Eyes in Giant Squid, 10.1016/j.cub.2012.02.031
  18. Claes J. M., Mallefet J., Early development of bioluminescence suggests camouflage by counter-illumination in the velvet belly lantern sharkEtmopterus spinax(Squaloidea: Etmopteridae), 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02006.x
  19. Maia, A. M. R. Functional morphology of the dorsal fins in sharks during steady swimming and maneuvering. Ph.D. Thesis. The University of Rhode Island (U.S.). Paper AAI3464746 (2011).
  20. Zylinski Sarah, Johnsen Sönke, Mesopelagic Cephalopods Switch between Transparency and Pigmentation to Optimize Camouflage in the Deep, 10.1016/j.cub.2011.10.014
  21. Klimpel, S., Palm, H. W. & Seehagen, A. Metazoan parasites and food composition of juvenile Etmopterus spinax (L., 1758) (Dalatiidae, Squaliformes) from the Norwegian deep. Parasitol. Res. 89, 245–251 (2003).
  22. Halstead Bruce W., Bunker Norman C., The Venom Apparatus of the Ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei, 10.2307/1439692
  23. Haddad Jr. Vidal, Gadig Otto Bismarck Fazzano, The spiny dogfish (‘cação-bagre’): description of an envenoming in a fisherman, with taxonomic and toxinologic comments on the Squalus gender, 10.1016/j.toxicon.2005.03.002
  24. Claes, J. M. Function and control of luminescence from lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) photophores. Ph.D. Thesis. Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium).
  25. De Cock R., Glow-worm larvae bioluminescence (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) operates as an aposematic signal upon toads (Bufo bufo), 10.1093/beheco/14.1.103
  26. Marek Paul, Papaj Daniel, Yeager Justin, Molina Sergio, Moore Wendy, Bioluminescent aposematism in millipedes, 10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.012
  27. Herring P. J., Widder E. A., Bioluminescence of deep-sea coronate medusae (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa), 10.1007/s00227-004-1430-7
  28. Deheyn D. D., Wilson N. G., Bioluminescent signals spatially amplified by wavelength-specific diffusion through the shell of a marine snail, 10.1098/rspb.2010.2203
  29. Bassot Jean-Marie, Nicolas Marie-Thérèse, Bioluminescence in scale-worm photosomes: the photoprotein polynoidin is specific for the detection of superoxide radicals, 10.1007/bf01835153
  30. Rivers T. J., Morin J. G., The relative cost of using luminescence for sex and defense: light budgets in cypridinid ostracods, 10.1242/jeb.072017
  31. Grober Matthew S., Brittle-star bioluminescence functions as an aposematic signal to deter crustacean predators, 10.1016/s0003-3472(88)80020-4
  32. Lane, E. D. A study of the Atlantic midshipman, Porichthys porosissimus, in the vicinity of Port Aransas, Texas. Contr. Mar. Sci. Univ. Tex. 12, 1–53 (1967).
  33. Herring, P. J. & Morin, J. G. in Bioluminescence in Action (ed Herring P. J., ed. ) 273–329 (Academic Press, New York, 1978).
  34. Kröger Ronald H. H., Kirschfeld Kuno, Optics of the harbor porpoise eye in water, 10.1364/josaa.10.001481
  35. Levenson David Hendrik, Schusterman Ronald J., Pupillometry in seals and sea lions: ecological implications, 10.1139/z97-838
Bibliographic reference Claes, Julien ; Dean, Mason N. ; Nilsson, Dan-Eric ; Hart, Nathan S. ; Mallefet, Jérôme. A deepwater fish with ‘lightsabers’ – dorsal spine-associated luminescence in a counterilluminating lanternshark. In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 3, no.1308, p. 1-4 (2013)
Permanent URL http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/129941