Fluorescent Eels Discovered and Photographed by Accident in the Caribbean

fluorescent eels and coral

Marine biologist David Gruber was photobombed by a fluorescent eel while photographing fluorescent coral on a trip to Little Cayman Island in the Caribbean in 2011. This was the first time such a creature was photographed in the wild.

Gruber and colleagues have now published their findings about the what makes the unique animal glow in a paper in the journal PLOS ONE.

fluorescent eels lit up and dark

fluorescent eel head lit up

images via PLOS ONE

via National Geographic

Glen Tickle
Glen Tickle

Amelia's dad. Steph's husband. Writer, comedian, gentleman. Good at juggling, bad at chess.