Friday, October 2, 2020

The Mystery of the Glowing Fish

  The Mystery of the Glowing Fish 

Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog

 
  
                            
I took these photographs of a rare specimen in my home aquarium. It was to be sold in a batch to be fed to an Aruwana, a big freshwater fish pet. It was a bargain in my favor when the supposed buyer didn't appear. I took care of the whole batch, a good two dozen of them, plus this rare fish which became the subject of study with kids in the neighborhood. It has been four months in my care.    

                            It is especially bright in the day, this albino carp;
                            Is it phosphorescence of jellyfish in disguise? 
                            That of the plankton or the lantern fish in the deep, 
                            Or the glowworms in caves, larvae of fireflies?

                            What compensates the albino deprived of pigment,
                            See through in fashion, frail and vulnerable 
                            To invisible deadly rays and visible enemies as well?
                            What has Nature in store for the less able?    
                            
                            I remember the rainbow fish, guppy with fancy tail,
                            The mayfly, her wings an arch of rainbow;
                            Eureka! My fish is a living prism that splits light 
                            And throws it back into a majestic glow. ~  
                       
 
Closeup of the glowing fish.  Its translucent body acts like a prototype prism in water. A prism works on the principle of capturing and splitting light into the colors of the rainbow. Limited as it is the fish can simply absorb some light and throw it back as a glow. The fish loses such property when taken out of the water as shown in these photos.   

  
Bioluminiscence or phosphorescence in Nature: Jellyfish, luminous mushroom. Internet photos.   

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid Dr Abe Rotor and Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday

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