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sea sparkle
dinoflagellate
Also known as: Noctiluca miliaris, Noctiluca scintillans
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marine bioluminescence
- In marine bioluminescence
notably the microscopic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, as well as some jellyfish. Many small crustaceans, such as the Vargula hilgendorfi (also known as Cypridina hilgendorfii), which is 3 to 4 mm (about 1/6 inch) long, become bioluminescent when disturbed. Many squids emit luminous clouds when threatened. Some species of fish…
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Noctiluca
- In Noctiluca
…consisting of a single species, Noctiluca scintillans (or N. miliaris), one of the most commonly occurring bioluminescent organisms in coastal regions of the world. The scintillating effect of Noctiluca’s bioluminescence, which is most conspicuous at night during a bloom (population increase), was historically a mysterious phenomenon, frequently contributing to what…
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