Under UV Light, Fire Salamanders Show Green-Cyan Glow

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Fire salamanders, among Europe's most recognizable amphibians, fluoresce green and cyan under ultraviolet light, according to research involving the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. The glow is strongest on the yellow underside and sides; researchers traced it mainly to skin glands and secretions, which stay fluorescent for more than 24 hours. Researchers do not know its purpose; ideas include helping salamanders find each other at night or making their bright colors stand out more to predators. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

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00:00one of europe's most familiar amphibians has been hiding a secret glow fire salamanders are known

00:05for their black and yellow skin and toxic defenses now researchers have found they fluoresce under

00:11ultraviolet light the glow shows up as vivid green and cyan it's strongest on the yellow underside

00:17and along the sides researchers traced it mainly to glands in the skin and what they release those

00:23secretions keep glowing for more than 24 hours after leaving the body this isn't the same as a

00:28firefly's light fluorescent animals absorb light like moonlight and send it back out in visible

00:34colors so why glow at all one idea is communication helping salamanders spot each other at night

00:40another is an extra warning to predators that they're poisonous for now both remain hypotheses

00:46even a well-studied animal can still surprise scientists disclosure this video contains

00:51stock footage and content created or enhanced using ai-assisted tools

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