10 animals that glow in the dark

By Afiur
October 26, 2025

Meet the bioluminescent creatures

From deep-sea creatures to forest insects, some animals naturally glow in the dark using bioluminescence — their built-in light source. These glowing wonders light up oceans, caves, and night skies, t

Firefly

These little flying lanterns light up summer nights across North America. Fireflies use their glowing tails to attract mates and communicate. Their bioluminescence is a natural chemical reaction — no

Deep-Sea Anglerfish

Lurking in the ocean’s darkest depths, anglerfish use a glowing lure on their heads to attract prey. The glow comes from bioluminescent bacteria living inside their lure — it’s both creepy and genius,

Jellyfish (Aequorea victoria)

This transparent jellyfish from the Pacific Ocean glows bright green thanks to a special protein called GFP — the same one scientists now use in labs worldwide. Its glow helps ward off predators and m

Lanternfish

One of the ocean’s most common glowing creatures, lanternfish have light-producing organs called photophores along their sides. They use them to communicate, camouflage, and attract mates in the deep

Glow-Worms

Found in caves and forests, glow-worms dangle sticky silk threads that shimmer with blue-green light to attract insects. These glowing traps are as beautiful as they are deadly — a mesmerizing way to

Cookiecutter Shark

This small but fierce shark has glowing underbellies that help it blend in with the ocean light above. It uses its bioluminescence as camouflage — then sneaks up to take circular “cookie-shaped” bites

Dinoflagellates (Glowing Plankton)

These microscopic ocean organisms make waves literally sparkle at night. When disturbed, they emit a stunning blue glow that lights up beaches from California to the Caribbean. Their bioluminescence t

Railroad Worm

This bizarre beetle larva glows in two colors — red on its head and green along its body. The red light helps it hunt in the dark without being seen by other glow-hunting predators. It’s nature’s vers

Crystal Jellyfish

Another ocean beauty, the crystal jellyfish shines like a floating chandelier. Its bell glows green or blue when disturbed, creating a hypnotic underwater light show. Scientists first discovered the g

Flashlight Fish

Living in tropical reefs, flashlight fish have bioluminescent bacteria inside small pockets under their eyes. They can switch their lights on and off like headlights to communicate, navigate, and find

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