E. NEWTON HARVEY 21 



Explanation of Table I 



The groups are arranged phylogenetically in order of increasing com- 

 plexity. References to authors and original papers are not given, since the 

 complete literature and additional details regarding light production will 

 be found in the book, Bioluminescence, by E. N. Harvey (Academic Press, 

 N. Y., 1952), containing a bibhography of 1800 papers. Papers not in- 

 cluded in the book are listed at the end of this article. 



Column 1 records the habitat, whether marine (M), fresh water (F), or 

 terrestrial (T). 



Column 2 indicates the type of light, whether due to self-luminosity with 

 intracellular (I), or extracellular (E) light emission from secreted material, 

 or to symbiotic luminous bacteria (Bs) always found in the luminous organ, 

 or to parasitic luminous bacteria (Bp) which have infected the living ani- 

 mal. Saprophytic luminous bacteria will grow on any dead organisms, 

 especially fish and squid, and some false reports of luminescence stem from 

 this source (the fish, Harpodon). Luminous fungi will grow on wood and 

 many other vegetable materials. 



Column 3. Knowledge of the cytology of the photogenic cell or the his- 

 tology of the light organ is indicated by a + if the structure is well known, 

 by a — if unknown and by ± if further study is desirable. Mutation has 

 been investigated only in bacteria, genetics only among the fungi. Knowl- 

 edge of chemistr>^ and physics of light emission is best known among bac- 

 teria, ostracods, and fireflies (columns 4-9). 



Column 4. The necessity of dissolved molecular oxygen for light produc- 

 tion is indicated by -}-. A — means that hght will appear in complete 

 absence of oxygen (Pt and Ho, or in excess hydrosulfite). A blank in this 

 column and in columns 4-9 indicates knowledge is lacking. 



Column 5. The luciferin-luciferase reaction is positive ( + ) if light appears 

 when a hot water extract of the luminous cells allowed to cool (luciferin) is 

 mixed with a cold water extract of the luminous cells allowed to stand until 

 the light disappears ( lucif erase ) . The luciferin of one species will give no 

 light with the luciferase of another luminous organism unless the two are 

 closely related, such as different species of fireflies or different species of 

 ostracods. No light appears on mixing luciferin (or luciferase) with lu- 

 ciferase (or luciferin) of a firefly and an ostracod, or Odontosyllis and an 

 ostracod, or Sijstellaspis and an ostracod. 



Column 6. If a nonluminous water extract of the luminous tissue con- 

 taining magnesium emits light when the sodium salt of adenosine triphos- 

 phate (ATP) is added, the ATP reaction is positive; if no light the reaction 

 is negative. A + and a — sign indicate positive in some species, negative in 

 others. 



