--- title: Scientists Discover First Ever Glowing Sea Turtle description: The critically endangered sea turtle is the first reptile observed with bioflourescence canonical: https://time.com/4053667/glowing-sea-turtle-endangered/ author: Denver Nicks article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-29T13:28:45.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:01:27.009Z article:section: Science og:title: Scientists Discover First Ever Glowing Sea Turtle og:description: The critically endangered sea turtle is the first reptile observed with bioflourescence og:url: https://time.com/4053667/glowing-sea-turtle-endangered/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Scientists Discover First Ever Glowing Sea Turtle twitter:description: The critically endangered sea turtle is the first reptile observed with bioflourescence twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Scientists Discover First Ever Glowing Sea Turtle  by [Denver Nicks](https://time.com/author/denver-nicks/)  ## Denver Nicks Sep 29, 2015 1:28 PM UTC  by [Denver Nicks](https://time.com/author/denver-nicks/)  ## Denver Nicks Sep 29, 2015 1:28 PM UTC Marine biologists working in the Solomon Islands, in the south Pacific Ocean, captured video footage of a sea turtle exhibiting bioflourescence—glowing in the dark—the first reptile science has [identified](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150928-sea-turtles-hawksbill-glowing-biofluorescence-coral-reef-ocean-animals-science150928-sea-turtles-hawksbill-glowing-biofluorescence-coral-reef-ocean-animals-science/?utm%5Fsource=Facebook&utm%5Fmedium=Social&utm%5Fcontent=link%5Ffb20150928news-glowingturtleexclusive&utm%5Fcampaign=Content&sf13576809=1) that exhibits the trait. David Gruber, a scientist with the City University of New York, was in the Solomon Islands in July conducting research on bioflourescence in sharks and coral reefs, species in which it has been observed previously, _National Geographic_ reports. Bioflourescence, in which an animal reflects the blue light of the ocean as a different color, is different from bioluminescence, in which an animal emits light through chemical reactions. Gruber was running a camera outfitted with special technology to pick up bioflourescence when the turtle swam into view. \[[_National Geographic_](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150928-sea-turtles-hawksbill-glowing-biofluorescence-coral-reef-ocean-animals-science150928-sea-turtles-hawksbill-glowing-biofluorescence-coral-reef-ocean-animals-science/?utm%5Fsource=Facebook&utm%5Fmedium=Social&utm%5Fcontent=link%5Ffb20150928news-glowingturtleexclusive&utm%5Fcampaign=Content&sf13576809=1)\] ### See Portrait Photographs of Shelter Dogs  Luigi, a puggle, which is a very highly desired "designer breed" was put up for adoption almost immediately because his family was moving. Traer Scott  Molly is a super-affectionate senior golden retriever who was separated from her owner of ten years after the woman was forced to move into elderly housing that did not allow pets. Traer Scott  Bandit, a Maltese mix, was seized from an elderly owner who was deemed unfit to provide proper care for animals. Traer Scott  Hope was born with deformed front and back legs. She was adopted right before she was euthanized. Traer Scott  Foxtrot is a purebred Chinese crested. Her owner was a victim of domestic violence and was forced to enter into a victim relocation program. Traer Scott  Salt was surrendered along with his brother, Justice. She lost her home after he owner's landlord changed his mind about allowing dogs. Traer Scott  Layla was surrendered to the shelter after her family fell on very difficult financial times. Traer Scott  Morrissey originally found as a stray, he developed a case of mange that caused him to lose a third of his fur. 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