Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History have unveiled the ancient origins of biofluorescence in fishes. Their research, published in Nature Communications and PLOS One, reveals that this phenomenon dates back at least 112 million years.
The study indicates that biofluorescence has evolved independently over 100 times, primarily among fish inhabiting coral reefs. It also highlights a greater diversity of colors involved, including green, yellow, orange, and red wavelengths.
Researchers surveyed 459 biofluorescent species, discovering that biofluorescence evolved more rapidly in reef-dwelling fish. This suggests a link between the emergence of coral reefs and the diversification of fluorescence in these species. The findings may also aid in identifying novel fluorescent molecules for biomedical applications.