Deep sea jellyfish use red light to catch fish

From the Google cache of Dear Kitty ModBlog:

WASHINGTON Jul 7, 2005 [ABC] — The first deep sea red-light district glowing appendages on a newly discovered jellyfish relative appear to flash their come-hither message to lure prey.

Jellyfish and other types of sea creatures are known to produce light, but this is the first deep ocean invertebrate known to use red fluorescent light, said Steven H. D. Haddock of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, Calif.

Three of the animals were found by scientists using a remote controlled research vehicle at depths of between 5,200 feet and 7,500 feet off the coast of California.

The discovery is reported in Friday’s issue of the journal Science.

The new find is a previously unreported species in the genus Erenna, which is a member of the group that includes coral and jellyfish.

The animal, which has not yet been named, has tentacles with side branches that consist of stinging cells attached to a central stalk.

See also here.

And here.

And here.

California black abalone: here.