About This Video
This quite elusive natural phenomenon found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, coastal California, can also be found in some places across Japan. Known as Umi-Hotaru in Japan (See-firefly), they are specifically, Vargula hilgendorfii, a species of bioluminescent ostracod crustacean.
Living in the sand at the bottom of shallow waters, these 3mm long animals are nocturnal and love to feed on dead animals.
While it is not rare to see a few of them in the summer at night, having them wash ashore in big quantities is getting more rare. They are a unique and beautiful natural phenomenon that it is worth experiencing if you ever have the opportunity to do so!
