despite its colourful appearance, the hawaiian bobtail squid (euprymna scolopes) has the ability to render itself invisible to predators from bellow, thanks to a luminescent bacteria, vibrio fischeri, which inhabits a special light organ in the squid’s mantle.
the bacteria, which are fed a sugar and amino acid solution by the squid, produce luciferase, an enzyme that facilitates a biochemical reaction that produces light.
the nocturnal squid, who can control the amount of light produced by the bacteria, are able to ensure that they are not silhouetted when passing through the light of the moon or the stars by emitting an equal amount of light on their underside to that which hits them from above.
photos by mattias ormestad, jackson wong, jose martín piñatel, david slater, todd bretl
(via unbadgr)
Source: nubbsgalore
the red eyeshine of the alligator occurs when light enters its eyes, passes through the rods (light receptors) and cones (color receptors) of the retina, strikes a membrane behind the retina called a tapeatum, and is then reflected back through the eye to the light source. most of the animals with eyeshine are, like alligators, night hunters who must make use of limited light. photos by larry lynch and david moynahan
(via nubbsgalore)
The Rio Caño Cristales - most colorful river (caused by algae and moss seen through the water), Colombia.
(via monere-lluvia)
Source: kelledia
The Spirit of Winter
A collection of winter photos shot between 2012-2014 by Finnish photographer Mikko Lagerstedt.
(via moreanimalia)
Source: behance.net
