UV Light Triggers Lumpfish Biofluorescence as a Means of Communication

Scientists have discovered that lumpfish glow under UV light in a study that was just published this month in the Journal of Fish Biology.

They postulated that these fish use their biofluorescence to distinguish one another and perhaps even communicate.

Lumpfish are colored differently as they age and are found in the North Atlantic and parts of the Arctic Ocean. Scientists believe they have identified the fish's true color, which is fluorescent green.

Biofluorescence

Biofluorescence has been seen in many different species recently, including cat sharks, flying squirrels, wombats, and many others.

The lumpfish has now been added to nature's cast of creatures that glow in the dark.

The majority of their lives are spent on the ocean floor by lone creatures known as lumpfish.

These odd-looking fish use a modified pelvic fin on their underside that functions as a suction cup to hang out until something tasty swims by.

They latch onto rocks and seaweed.

On TikTok, where a never-ending stream of videos posted by scientists and fishermen have amassed millions of views, they have also grown to be virtual celebrities.

The lumpfish is described by Nathaniel Spada, a research assistant at the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, as having a clumsy, ungainly appearance, via New York Times.

Additionally, Spada moonlights as a lumpfish influencer.

His Werner Herzog-inspired TikToks featuring lumpfish in his lab have received millions of views, although he was not involved in the study.

Spada claimed that although he did not anticipate the level of popularity for the content, he should have anticipated it given that lumpfish are, in his words, "cool" fish.

@spadaniel44 In honor of me defending my masters thesis today on lumpfish, here’s an old lump vid #GiveWithAllYourHeart #NBCAnnieLive #MyAncestryStory #throwback #UNH #COLSA #cool #cute #foryoupage #foryoupageofficiall #animals #marinebio #cool #cute #fish #lumpfish ♬ original sound - Nate Spada

Meet The Lumpfish

The most adorable aquatic creatures, according to Monterey Bay Aquarium, are lumpfish.

The lumpy, stumpy swimmers scoot through the water by flapping their fins, and they use modified fins that have a suction disc on them to cling to the rocks.

Appearance. The fish has a chubby appearance and a round, stout body with big eyes. Its fan-like pectoral fins and broom-shaped caudal fin help it move through the water, despite not being the fastest swimmer. Its skin is leathery and bumpy but lacks scales.

The lumpfish's assortment of bumps, lumps, and ridges truly lives up to its name. Spots and tubercles, the fleshy knobs, cover its body.

The first dorsal fin's thick layer of skin forms a massive ridge along its back and gives the impression that the animal is sporting a huge, meaty mohawk.

A row of larger bumps lines the side of its body.

Size. Some lumpfish species, such as the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, are tiny and rounded; they resemble tiny, vibrant chewing-gum bubbles.

Cyclopterus lumpus, in contrast, is larger, heavier, and lumpier.

Males can reach a height of 20 inches, but females can reach heights of up to 24 inches.

Although most lumpfish are much smaller, the largest can weigh up to 21 pounds.

Suction discs. The modified pelvic fin of the lumpfish serves as a suction disc, enabling it to cling to objects. When a strong current passes, the lumpfish's suction disc firmly holds it to a piece of kelp or rock.

The lumpfish is a member of the family Cyclopteridae, which derives its name from the Greek words for "circle" and "fin." A large group of fishes has this intriguing characteristic in common.

Color. As it ages, Cyclopterus lumpus develops new colors.

A lumpfish's juvenile skin may be the same shade as its surroundings, changing to a lighter shade of grey or blue as it ages.

A breeding male will change color to an orange-red hue, while a female will change to a blue-green hue.