Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • India
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Home
  2. Bing Gallery
  3. India
  4. 2020
  5. August 11
  6. Bioluminescent sea fireflies along the shore of Okayama, Japan
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Bioluminescent sea fireflies along the shore of Okayama, Japan

August 11, 2020

Bioluminescent sea fireflies along the shore of Okayama, Japan

© tdub_video/Getty Image

Sea fireflies at the seashore

Sea fireflies may glow like the fireflies that send out backyard beacons at night, but that's about where the similarities end between the two species. Scientists call the bioluminescent crustaceans washing over these rocks Vargula hilgendorfii, and here in Japan they're commonly known as umi-hotaru. They're visible at night in the shallow sea waters and beaches of Japan, although other species of the genus Vargula can be seen glowing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and off the California coast of the US. Each sea firefly is about the size of a sesame seed, yet as a group they set off an impressive aura. Their glow intensifies depending on the salinity of the sea water and other physical stimuli. Besides lighting up the shores at night, the crustaceans do their part cleaning up the beach by munching on sandworms and dead fish. That's just one less thing for beachcombers to worry about during a glimmering seaside walk.

water sky outdoor beach mountain lake boat ocean landscape nature cloud sea coast shore distance

Related Images

Blue hour in Trondheim, NorwayBlue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Porto, PortugalPorto, Portugal
Lake Bled, SloveniaLake Bled, Slovenia
Christmas lights at Mousehole harbour, Cornwall, EnglandChristmas lights at Mousehole harbour, Cornwall, England
Old Town in Helsinki, FinlandOld Town in Helsinki, Finland
Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, USATufa formation on Mono Lake, California, USA
Aerial view of Ocean City, Maryland, at sunriseAerial view of Ocean City, Maryland, at sunrise
St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, MichiganSt. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan

Today on Bing

Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Aug 11, 2024
'Gateway' pool at Jupiter Artland sculpture park, Edinburgh, Scotland

'Gateway' pool at Jupiter Artland sculpture park, Edinburgh, Scotland

Aug 11, 2023
Handmade threads (rakhis) kept on a wooden surface

Handmade threads (rakhis) kept on a wooden surface

Aug 11, 2022
The Perseid meteor shower photographed at the Dinosaur Museum of Erenhot in Inner Mongolia, China

The Perseid meteor shower photographed at the Dinosaur Museum of Erenhot in Inner Mongolia, China

Aug 11, 2021
A thunderstorm rolls across the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, USA

A thunderstorm rolls across the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, USA

Aug 11, 2019

Related Tags

sky outdoor boat water lake scene building harbor cloud landscape ship city watercraft sunset house river dusk several night ocean
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.