Bioluminescence Around the World: 10 Organisms that Glow in the Dark
From glowing mushrooms in Brazil to sparkling plankton in the Maldives, bioluminescence is a natural wonder found across the globe.
Bioluminescence is when living things produce their own light. This usually happens through a chemical reaction: an enzyme called luciferase helps a compound called luciferin react with oxygen, creating light as a biproduct. In nature, this glow can help insects attract mates, lure prey, or avoid predators; in mushrooms, it may guide insects that spread their spores.
Ghost Mushroom (Omphalotus nidiformis) – Australia
Found in eucalyptus forests, this mushroom glows with a soft green glow and is one of the brightest bioluminescent fungi in the world. They are often visible from May to June in South Australia, during the wettest parts of the seasons and can be seen in places like Ghost Mushroom Lane in South Australia.
Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellea) – UK, Europe, North America
Common in UK woodlands, this fungus glows faintly from its underground mycelium. It’s also found across Europe, Asia, and North America where it is said to glow brighter than those in the UK. Gardeners dread this fungus because it causes root rot, destroys a wide range of plants, and is notoriously difficult to eradicate.
Mycena chlorophos – Japan, Indonesia, Pacific Islands
These small delicate mushroom glow brightly in humid forests. It’s often found on decaying wood and is one of the most studied bioluminescent fungi in the world. On this fungus it’s only the cap and the gills of the mushroom that glow.
Neonothopanus gardneri – Brazil
First documented in Vila de Natividade, Brazil, and originally mistaken for a firefly, this large mushroom glows from both its cap and stem. Known locally as Flor de Coco, it is believed to attract insects to help disperse its spores.
Panellus stipticus – North America, Europe, Asia
One of the brightest bioluminescent fungi in North America, commonly known as the bitter oyster, appears cream or beige in daylight. It grows on decaying wood, starting its fruiting body as small blobs before fanning out. The glow comes from its gills and mycelium. Historically, it is said to have been used by miners in the UK, producing enough light to help them roughly see where they were working in the dark.
Mycena luxaeterna – Brazil, Jamaica, Belize, Japan, Puerto Rico
Nicknamed the “eternal light” mushroom, this species glows continuously and thrives in tropical forests. These delicate fungi are tiny, with long, slender stems topped by small, umbrella-like caps.
Dinoflagellates and other glowing phytoplankton (Bioluminescent Plankton) – Global
These tiny marine organisms emit a blue-green glow when disturbed, creating a magical effect in the water.
Famous viewing spots include:
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Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico
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Vaadhoo Island, Maldives
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Toyama Bay, Japan
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South Wales & Cornwall, UK
Around Taiwan’s Matsu Islands, this phenomenon is known as “blue tears,” while in the Maldives it’s called the “Sea of Stars.” However, the glow never stays in one place for long, as these organisms drift with the tides.
Glow-worms – UK, New Zealand, Australia
Glow-worms are beetles that emit light to attract mates. In the UK, they’re found in chalky grasslands, particularly common on the English south coast. In New Zealand, glowworms light up cave ceilings like stars.
Firefly Squid – Japan
Found in Toyama Bay, these small squid glow in deep blue and purple hues during spring, bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Tiny dots of light-producing organs called photophores run along their bodies, emitting different wavelengths of light so they can appear blue or green. This bioluminescence is said to help them communicate, hunt, and camouflage by matching the brightness of the surrounding water, making it harder for predators to spot them.
Fireflies – North America, South East Asia, Autstralia
Across the world, tiny lights illuminate grasslands, forests, and marshes, inspiring countless myths and legends. Often called “fairy lights,” these insects glow to communicate with one another. Different species flash in distinct patterns, and intriguingly, predatory Photuris fireflies can mimic these patterns to lure other fireflies to eat them.