Corals Evolved to Produce Light 540 Million Years Ago

Bioluminescence, or the ability of a living thing to produce its own light, doesn't just exist to wow us on moonlight beaches or in biotechnology laboratories. It's an evolutionary mechanism, and depending on the species it lights up, it can help a critter avoid predators, lure in prey, or attract a mate. Scientists have historically believed bioluminescence appeared around 267 million years ago in ostracods, or "seed shrimp." But a new study of the marine subphylum Anthozoa reveals that bioluminescence has existed for over twice as long as previously thought. According to the researchers, certain corals kicked off nature's light show roughly 540 million years ago. 

Because it's evolved independently across phyla about 100 times, the origin and progression of bioluminescence can be challenging to track. Researchers in the United States and Japan wanted to examine the history of bioluminescence within Octocorallia, a class of marine ...