Distribution of bioluminescent polychaete larvae of <i>Odontosyllis</i> sp. in South Andaman

Abstract

Larval distribution of a luminous <i>Odontosyllis</i> sp. on different marine niches such as the articulated coralline red algae <i>Amphirova anceps</i>, algal mats on boats, seawater and sediment is being reported here for the first time from Burmanallah Coast.The freshly collected luminous larvae of <i>Odontosyllis</i> sp. from these niches emitted an intense glow of luminescence upon the addition of freshwater and upon gentle disturbance. Flashes of internal luminescence was appeared in freshly collected larvae, whereas continuous glow lasted for few minutes when freshwater was added. Luminescent bacteria were not observed in these larvae, indicating that their luminescence emission is not due to bacterial production, but could be the self-internal emission mechanism.