A green biofluorescent chain catshark (Scyliorhinus retifer) (©J. Sparks, D. Gruber, and V. Pieribone) A biofluorescent stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) ©AMNH A biofluorescent ray (Urobatis jamaicensis) ©AMNH A biofluorescent lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) ©AMNH A red fluorescing scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis papuensis) perched on red fluorescing algae at night in the Solomon Islands. (©PLOS ONE) A triplefin blennie (Enneapterygius sp.) under white light (above) and blue light (below). (©J. Sparks and D. Gruber) A biofluorescent lizardfish (Saurida gracilis) ©AMNH A biofluorescent sole (Soleichthys heterorhinos) ©AMNH A biofluorescent surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus, larval) ©AMNH A biofluorescent goby (Eviota sp.) ©AMNH A biofluorescent false moray eel (Kaupichthys brachychirus) ©AMNH This study was based on five high-tech expeditions. On the latest trip to the Solomon Islands, the scientists conducted technical scuba dives and descended in a three-person submersible to examine deep coral reef biofluorescence down to 1,000 meters. ©AMNH Researchers discovered a rich diversity of fluorescent patterns and colors in marine fishes, as exemplified here. A). swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum); B). ray (Urobatis jamaicensis); C). sole (Soleichthys heterorhinos); D). flathead (Cociella hutchinsi); E). lizardfish (Saurida gracilis); F). frogfish (Antennarius maculatus); G). stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa); H). false moray eel (Kaupichthys brachychirus); I). Chlopsidae (Kaupichthys nuchalis); J). pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus); K). sand stargazer (Gillellus uranidea); L). goby (Eviota sp.); M). Gobiidae (Eviota atriventris); N). surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus, larval); O). threadfin bream (Scolopsis bilineata). (©PLOS ONE)

A few lucky animals, such as jellyfish and corals, have the strange ability to absorb light and emit it as a different, glowing color. This phenomenon is known as biofluorescence, and now scientists have discovered it is much, much more widespread than we knew.

More Glowing Animals:

Glow-in-the-Dark Animals Star in Bioluminescence Show

8 Beautiful Bioluminescent Creatures From the SeaLots of species that seem perfectly normal to us under regular light look entirely different in deeper water. Here, much of the visible light spectrum has been absorbed by water, leaving mostly blue light. It turns out that many fish species use this light to glow in neon green, orange or red.

“By designing scientific lighting that mimics the ocean’s light along with cameras that can capture the animals’ fluorescent light, we can now catch a glimpse of this hidden biofluorescent universe,” biologist David Gruber of Baruch College and the American Museum of Natural History said in a press release Jan. 8.

To catch the fish in the act of fluorescing, which is invisible to the human eye, Gruber and a team of scientists used blue lights and cameras with yellow filters that block the blue light and capture the glow.

Researcher David Gruber searching for new biofluorescent organisms off Hele Island, Solomon Islands, with a 5K EPIC camera system and blue lights. (Ken Corben)

The scientists discovered the secret while taking pictures of fluorescent coral off of Little Cayman Island for a bioluminescence exhibition at the museum. A glowing green eel made an appearance at the photo shoot. When the team went looking for more on a subsequent expedition to the Bahamas and Solomon Islands, they were not disappointed. Sharks, rays, eels, lizardfish and other species were all glowing.

The team reported 180 species with the capability in the journal PLOS ONE on Jan. 8. Because many of these species also have yellow filters in their eyes that could allow them to see biofluorescence, the scientists suspect the animals are using the glow to stand out and communicate to each other, while remaining hidden from predators.