Studies onChaetopterus variopedatus(Renier). III. Factors affecting the light response

Abstract

Luminescence inChaetopterusis an extracellular phenomenon and is due to the secretion of photogenic material by certain glandular cells in definitely circumscribed regions of the body. These gland cells are eosinophihc elements scattered singly or massed together in dense aggiegations in certain regions. They are particularly abundant in the epithelium covering the distal surface of posterior notopodia, and in two glandular areas on the dorsal surface of the aliform notopodia. These two regions also display the brightest luminescence (Nicol, 1952 a).