photophore

photophore
/foh"teuh fawr', -fohr'/, n. Zool.
a luminous organ found in certain fishes and crustaceans.
[1880-85; PHOTO- + -PHORE]

* * *

      light-emitting organ present in fireflies and certain other bioluminescent animals. Photophores are glandular in origin and produce light by a chemical reaction. Photophores vary in size and form but often contain such structures as lenses, reflecting layers, and filters in addition to the light-producing material. See also bioluminescence.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • photophore — [ fɔtɔfɔr ] n. m. • 1803; de photo et phore 1 ♦ Techn. Lampe munie d un réflecteur. Mineur portant un photophore à son casque. 2 ♦ Coupe décorative en verre, destinée à recevoir une bougie ou une veilleuse. 3 ♦ Anat. Organe lumineux des animaux… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Photophore — Pho to*phore, n. [Photo + Gr. fe rein to bear.] 1. (Med.) A form of endoscope using an electric light. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A light emitting organ; specif., one of the luminous spots on certain marine (mostly deep sea) fishes.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • photophore — [fōt′ə fôr΄] n. [ PHOTO + PHORE] a light organ in bioluminescent animals containing reflective tissue and light producing cells …   English World dictionary

  • Photophore — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Photophore (du grec phôs, phôtos signifiant lumière et pherein signifiant porter) signifie porte lumière. En décoration d intérieur, un photophore est une …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Photophore — A photophore is a light emitting organ which appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and… …   Wikipedia

  • photophore — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1898 a light emitting organ; especially one of the luminous spots on various marine mostly deep sea fishes …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • photophore — a light producing organ. Light may be produced from compounds produced by the fish itself or from prey it has ingested, or by symbiotic bacteria. The organ may be simple or variously equipped with reflectors, lenses, shutters, etc., e.g. in… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • photophore — n. [Gr. phos, light; pherein, to bear] A light producing organ of certain marine Hydrozoa, Crustacea and Cephalopoda …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • photophore — noun A light emitting organ, found in some fish and other marine animals …   Wiktionary

  • photophore — In bacteriology, the organ producing intracellular bioluminescence in certain organisms. [photo + G. phoros, bearing] …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”