Bioluminescence in cephalopods: biodiversity, biogeography and research trends

Numerous terrestrial and marine organisms, including cephalopods, are capable of light emission. In addition to communication, bioluminescence is used for attraction defense mechanisms. The present review aims to: (i) updated information on the taxonomic diversity luminous cephalopods morphological features, (ii) describe large-scale biogeographic patterns, (iii) show research trends over last 50 years cephalopod bioluminescence. According our database (834 species), 32% all known species can emit light, oegopsid myopsid squids, sepiolids, octopuses, representatives several other smaller orders (bathyteuthids, monotypic vampire “squid”, Vampyroteuthis infernalis ram’s horn Spirula spirula ). Most have a combination photophores in different locations, which organs head region dominant, followed by associated with arms tentacles internal photophores. Regarding patterns organs, most diverse ocean Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Indian Oceans. least Southern Arctic publication trends, systematic revealed that, between 1971 2020, 277 peer-reviewed studies were published bioluminescent cephalopods. has been done single species, Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes . interest this mostly due its species-specific symbiotic relationship bacterium Vibrio fischeri , as model study Eukaryote–Prokaryote symbiosis. Because there many knowledge gaps about biology biogeography light-producing new state-of-the-art techniques (e.g., eDNA monitoring) help achieve finer resolution species’ distributions. Moreover, effects climate change stressors processes nonexistent. Future needed assess such impacts at levels biological organization, potential broad-scale changes, understand implications food web dynamics.