Bioluminescence is the ability for an organism to produce it’s own light and this ability is observed in many marine organisms. Anglerfish (order Lophiiformes) use it for hunting. Sea pens (order Pennatulacea) show this characteristic when touched.  Crystal jellyfish (Aequorea victoria) emit bright flashes of blue light.  The list goes on and on.

In this TED video, bioluminescent expert Edith Widder talks about this weird and wonderful world of bioluminescence and offers some amazing video footage of different marine organisms displaying this behavior when hunting, mating, and in self-defense situations.  Watch the video below be amazed:

http://www.ted.com/talks/edith_widder_the_weird_and_wonderful_world_of_bioluminescence.html