A study by scientists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has revealed that bioluminescence, the ability of organisms to produce light through chemical reactions, may have originated 540 million years ago in deep-sea corals. This discovery challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of bioluminescence in animals and suggests that this ability has played a significant role in the success of eight-chambered corals over time.
The common ancestor of eight-chambered corals was likely bioluminescent 540 million years ago, as determined by a detailed evolutionary mapping conducted by researchers. This finding suggests that a group of marine invertebrates existing 300 million years earlier than previously thought may have been the first animals to exhibit bioluminescence.
Andrea Quattrini, coral curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and senior author of the study, expressed interest in determining when bioluminescence first appeared in animals. Through their research, they concluded that bioluminescence has evolved independently at least 94 times in nature and serves various purposes such as camouflage, courtship, communication, and hunting.
Danielle DeLeo, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of bioluminescence as a form of communication for many deep-sea animals. Bioluminescence allows these creatures to communicate with each other in complete darkness, making it an essential tool for survival in their environment.
