A photophore is a light-emitting organ which appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fishes and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; eqipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors [1]. The light can be produced from compounds during the digestion of prey, from specialized mitochondrial cells in the organism, called photocytes ("light producing" cells) from the nomenclature of ichthyology, or, similarly, associated with symbiotic bacteria in the organism that is cultured.
The character of photophores is important in the identification of benthic fishes.
In medicine, the photophore is an instrument (a type of endoscope) used to observe internal organs and tissues.
Compare: chemoluminescence, bioluminescence, biophoton
Reference
- Photo, diagram and description of a cephalopod photophore
