Mother ship beams up prey

The jellyfish Atolla lives worldwide in the deep sea, where light levels are very low. The jellyfish is bioluminescent—emitting blue-green light—and so are most of its prey. Scientists think that the deep red color of the animal’s stomach serves a purpose­—to keep the blue light of its luminescent lunch from escaping and giving away Atolla’s location to its own predators. This image is also featured in the 2010 wall calendar available for purchase online or in the Ocean Science Exhibit Center. (Photo by Larry Madin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)