photophore
noun
pho·to·phore
ˈfō-tə-ˌfȯr 
: a light-emitting organ
especially
: one of the luminous spots on various marine mostly deep-sea fishes
Examples of photophore in a Sentence
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Though the undersea sighting may resolve the question of how the photophore works, other researchers wondered how the ram’s horn was able to hover vertically in the water column with the buoyant part of its body underneath it.
—
Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2020
Researchers noticed a few differences between the two fish, including fewer vertebrae and numerous light-producing photophores that cover most of the body, the report says.
—Ricky Pinela, orlandosentinel.com, 19 July 2019
Then there’s the world’s smallest shark, the six-inch lanternshark, which advertises its own goods via photophores (or light-producing organs) clustered around its reproductive organs.
—Liz Langley, National Geographic, 2 May 2019
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Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2020
Researchers noticed a few differences between the two fish, including fewer vertebrae and numerous light-producing photophores that cover most of the body, the report says.
—Ricky Pinela, orlandosentinel.com, 19 July 2019
Then there’s the world’s smallest shark, the six-inch lanternshark, which advertises its own goods via photophores (or light-producing organs) clustered around its reproductive organs.
—Liz Langley, National Geographic, 2 May 2019
Cite this Entry
“Photophore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photophore. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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