![Make Your Own Creatures of Light](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol/3005864-1-eng-US/title_myocol_full_495.gif 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol/3005864-1-eng-US/title_myocol_full_990.gif 710w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol/3005864-1-eng-US/title_myocol_full_1468.gif 710w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol/3005864-1-eng-US/title_myocol_full_1980.gif 710w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol/3005864-1-eng-US/title_myocol_full_2475.gif 710w)
![Stylized, colorful text reading "Make Your Own Creatures of Light."](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/zoology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol_mobilealt/3110729-1-eng-US/title_myocol_mobilealt_full_495.gif 351w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/zoology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol_mobilealt/3110729-1-eng-US/title_myocol_mobilealt_full_990.gif 351w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/zoology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol_mobilealt/3110729-1-eng-US/title_myocol_mobilealt_full_1468.gif 351w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/zoology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol_mobilealt/3110729-1-eng-US/title_myocol_mobilealt_full_1980.gif 351w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/zoology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/title_myocol_mobilealt/3110729-1-eng-US/title_myocol_mobilealt_full_2475.gif 351w)
ON LAND
![Firefly & Glowworm](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/firefly_glowworm/3006461-1-eng-US/firefly_glowworm_full_495.gif 221w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/firefly_glowworm/3006461-1-eng-US/firefly_glowworm_full_990.gif 221w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/firefly_glowworm/3006461-1-eng-US/firefly_glowworm_full_1468.gif 221w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/firefly_glowworm/3006461-1-eng-US/firefly_glowworm_full_1980.gif 221w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/firefly_glowworm/3006461-1-eng-US/firefly_glowworm_full_2475.gif 221w)
In a forest in North America, mushrooms glow with an eerie green light. Fireflies signal one another in a pattern of yellow flashes.
Deep inside a cave in New Zealand, a hungry glowworm can produce over 40 sticky lures!
IN THE OCEAN
![anglerfish](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/anglerfish/3006478-1-eng-US/anglerfish_full_495.gif 198w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/anglerfish/3006478-1-eng-US/anglerfish_full_990.gif 198w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/anglerfish/3006478-1-eng-US/anglerfish_full_1468.gif 198w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/anglerfish/3006478-1-eng-US/anglerfish_full_1980.gif 198w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/marine-biology/make-your-own-creatures-of-light/anglerfish/3006478-1-eng-US/anglerfish_full_2475.gif 198w)
In the deep seawater world of complete darkness, the only light comes from living things:
- The vampire squid waves its flashing arm tips to startle predators.
- The deep-sea anglerfish dangles a light to lure prey.
- The stoplight loosejaw dragonfish uses its red light (invisible to other organisms) to illuminate prey.
- The hatchetfish and bristlemouth use their light to blend in with dim sunlight coming down from above and to hide from predators prowling below.
Image Credits:
Firefly, © Jeff. J. Daly/Alamy; Waitomo glow worm larvae, © Kjell B. Sandved/Visuals Unlimited; deep-sea anglerfish, courtesy of Edith Widder/HBOI.