Bioluminescence maintenance in juvenile Porichthys notatus

Bioluminescence in the midshipman fish, from the Santa Barbara coastal region, was quantified from onset through the first 2 yr of life. Maximum light emission was 2.5 × 10⁹ photons s^-1 upon leaving the nest and reached 2.0 × 10¹⁰ photons s^-1 within the first year. These intensities may be sufficient for counterillumination in moon or starlight over most of the depth range of the fish. Juveniles require exogenous luciferin to remain luminescent. -from Authors