TAXONOMIC CORRELATES OF BIOLUMINESCENCE AMONG APPENDICULARIANS (UROCHORDATA: LARVACEA)

摘要: Larvaceans, common members of marine plankton communities, filter-feed with renewable, external, mucous houses. The houses some species Oikopleuridae produce endogenous bioluminescent flashes upon mechanical stimulation and may contribute significantly to surface luminescence. To determine which the are luminescent, we examined several for stimulable luminescence morphological features responsible or associated light production. Luminescence is newly reported from house rudiments clean, particle-free Oikopleura rufescens Stegosoma magnum. In these species, emanates previously undescribed fluorescent inclusions in rudiment. Neither fluorescence nor were detected other parts body. Both also possess oral glands, apparently not directly involved production but serve as a convenient taxonomic marker All six known luminescent larvacea...