Scientists discover wombats, other Australian animals, glow in the dark under UV light

The research got great reviews.

© Twitter
Bright wombats

Scientists have found that Australian wombats, platypuses and other mammals glow in the dark under ultraviolet light, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Bright wombats are some of my favorites too! #wombat #uv pic.twitter.com/XdgLqAoorX

– Kenny Travouillon (@TravouillonK) November 5, 2020

Researchers from Wisconsin accidentally discovered this biofluorescence in three platypus specimens, and their results were published in the journal Mammalia in October.

Naturally, the Australian researchers decided to study their native animals in the same light, according to ABC. They found that platypuses aren’t the only ones biologically equipped for a rave.

Echidna, bandicoots, bilbies, possums, and a few bats all glowed under the black light, ScienceAlert reported. The researchers tested about two dozen mammals, with a third of which proved to be biofluorescent.

Scientists have known for years that some insects and marine creatures glow in UV light, but they had never seen the trait in mammals before the discovery of the platypus.

The evolutionary purpose of skin and coat that glow in the dark is unknown. Theoretically it could make these animals easier to see at night, but Swedish biologist Michael Bok pointed out that unless wombats are true party animals, they won’t often encounter these lighting conditions in the wild.