Science
#animals #light #video
A Scorpion and Her Babies Emit a Fluorescent Blue and Purple Glow Under UV Light
Artist Sarah Folts explores the vast world of insects and arachnids, and she recently captured extraordinary footage of an unusual phenomenon. Under UV light, a scorpion and the babies cradled on her back radiate a bright blue and purple glow caused by proteins in the pincered creatures’ exoskeletons—the younger predators will stay in this position until their shells adequately harden. Scientists are unsure what the evolutionary purpose of the fluorescent color is, although theories include an inadvertent chemical reaction, a tactic for deceiving prey, and the novel idea that their entire bodies function as giant eyes. (via Laughing Squid)
#animals #light #video
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