Scientists Finding Lots of Mammals Glow Under UV Light
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Earlier this year, scientists published a paper outlining how platypuses exhibit biofluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) light. That is, how the duck-billed mammals are able to glow like a black-light poster when lit up with the invisible light. Now, more reports of other mammals glowing under UV light are beginning to emerge. Although when it comes to understanding why they do so, it seems everyone’s still in the dark.
After platypus was shown to glow under UV light, couldn’t resist trying bilbies. their ears and tails shine bright like a diamond! #bilby#uvpic.twitter.com/wL82RDdFYb Dr Kenny Travouillon (@TravouillonK) November 3, 2020
More Mammals Are Hiding Their Secret Glow
First it was platypuses. Now we may be dealing with glowing Tasmanian devils, echidnas and wombats.
Stuffed bare-nosed wombats fluoresce under a black light at the Western Australia Museum. Credit.Western Australia Museum
By Cara Giaimo
Were platypuses just the beginning?
In October, researchers reported that the already perplexing animals fluoresce a psychedelic blue-green color under black light. The species joined a short list of mammals known to do this, including opossums and flying squirrels.
Since the study came out, others have begun their own investigations, mostly in Australian mammals. Although results are preliminary, the findings suggest we may have to book a larger venue for the mammal rave.