Tiny sharks provide glowing clue

[Judi Lynn]

Last edited Thu Apr 26, 2012, 09:08 AM - Edit history (1)

26 April 2012 Last updated at 07:47
Tiny sharks provide glowing clue
By Ella Davies
Reporter, BBC Nature


[font size=1]Scientists caught the tiny dogfish sharks off the coast of Taiwan[/font]

Tiny sharks in South East Asia have helped scientists to understand the origins of glowing shark species.

A number of deep-dwelling sharks have special light-emitting organs on their undersides that allow them to glow.

A study of pygmy sharks now suggests the ability to control the trick evolved from a shallow water ancestor.

Dr Julien Claes from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium led the research.

He said: "bioluminescence remains one of the most mysterious areas of shark biology."

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17812363

[Little Star]

1. Cool. I've never heard of them before. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

2. Interesting

Maybe they're evolving fricken laser beams on their heads.

[canuckledragger]

4. lol

[Scuba]

3. Fascinating. Makes these guys look ordinary...

<a href="http://imgur.com/cpxMn"><img src="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>