A new paper in the African Journal of Marine Science turned me on to the genus Lycoteuthis, an open-ocean squid just bristling with light organs. According to Vecchione and Young:

Presumably they exhibit considerable bioluminescent courtship behavior which, unfortunately, has never been observed. 

Oh man, talk about fireworks! Wouldn't it be incredible to be the first person to witness Lycoteuthis courtship? I may have a new goal in life.




All those white pearls are photophores--light organs. Gorgeous.


Major shout-out to Joe Wible, the outstanding librarian at Hopkins Marine Station, who continues to send me all the cephalopod papers that cross his desk, including this Lycoteuthis article.