Observations on the Luminescence of Bathypelagic Crustacea Decapoda of the Bermuda Area.

Summary Luminescence has been observed in eight species of Decapod Crustacea, including Hymenodora graeilis which has not hitherto been believed to be luminous. Organs previously described as photophores only on the basis of their structure have actually been seen to emit light. As a result of these observations it is possible to reaffirm the suggestion that the photophores constitute recognition signals, but it seems likely that response involves both young and adult members of the population, so causing swarming with the subsequent facilitation of mating.