Below are examples of the major luciferin types which have been examined, as well as the organisms which use that particular system.
Click on molecule to see a more detailed view of that system.
| L U C I F E R I N T Y P E | E X A M P L E S |
| Bacteria Luciferin + Luciferase |
Bacteria Some fish Some squid Pyrosomes? |
| Dinoflagellate Luciferin + Luciferase |
Dinoflagellates Euphausiid shrimp |
| Vargulin Luciferin+Luciferase |
Ostracods Some fish |
| Coelenterazine Luciferin + Luciferase Photoprotein |
Radiolarians Ctenophores Cnidarians Squid Copepods Decapod shrimp Mysid shrimp Some fish Chaetognaths |
| Firefly Luciferin + Luciferase |
Fireflies |
| Other and Unknown | Amphipods Nemertean worms Polychaete worms Bivalves Larvaceans Tunicates Fresh-water Limpets Earthworms Fungus Gnats |
| No known luminous members | Sponges Diatoms Foraminifera Heteropods Pteropods |
[ graphics version of table ]
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