A photophore is a glandular organ that 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 reflectors. The bioluminescence can variously be produced from compounds during the digestion of prey, from specialized mitochondrial cells in the organism, called photocytes or, associated with symbiotic bacteria in the organism that is cultured. Photophores are important in the identification of deep-sea fishes. Photophores on fish are used for attracting food or for camouflage from predators by counter illumination.
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