Scientists have confirmed that the kitefin shark is the world’s largest known bioluminescent vertebrate, glowing naturally in the deep sea. Reaching lengths of up to six feet, this predator emits a soft blue-green light from specialized skin cells. The discovery was made when researchers studied live specimens caught in the twilight zone of the ocean, hundreds of meters below the surface.
While the exact purpose of the shark’s glow remains uncertain, experts believe it could serve as camouflage against predators, or aid in hunting prey in the darkness of deep waters. Regardless of its function, the finding highlights the remarkable adaptations of deep-sea life, which continues to surprise scientists with unique survival strategies in one of the planet’s most extreme environments.
