• Flickr User: FurryScaly
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    Don't be ashamed for your "childish" love for glow-in-the-dark creatures. Whether you're 8 or 88, being able to see something shining in the dark is pretty thrilling. Some animals even depend on their glow-in-the-dark powers to get through life. Check out these critters that turn on their natural lights at night. Now you know who to invite to your next slumber party.

    CREEPY AND COLORFUL

    Who knew scorpions were natural club kids? When you shine a black light on these critters, their exoskeletons glow a neon blue. This transformation happens due to the way the proteins of a scorpion's outer shell convert the light. Scientists are still unsure what benefit (if any) this glowing feature serves.

  • Rex/Rex USA
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    COME TO ME, MY PRETTY

    Like humans, many deep-sea fish are attracted to pretty lights. The anglerfish uses this to its advantage by dangling a bioluminescent lure above its jaws. Fish eagerly swim toward the light, only to find a hungry set of teeth. 

  • Thinkstock
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    FLOATING FIRE

    There are more than 2,000 species of fireflies, a member of the beetle family, which are found all over the world. Each species has a unique light-blinking pattern that is created by special light organs in their lower abdomens. By combining certain cells, fireflies are able to emit light that generates almost no heat.

  • Alamy
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    SHARK IN THE DARK

    The smalleye pygmy shark serves as its own nightlight. The tiny sea creature was only discovered this past April, and the species sports a never-before-seen feature: a glowing belly. Through studies, scientists believe their glow is due to a bioluminescence that helps the sharks camouflage themselves in the deep ocean waters.

  • Mayo Clinic/REUTERS
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    GLOWING FOR GOOD

    Recently, cats were used for a study to help the fight against AIDS. Several felines had a protein inserted into their genes to help them fight the feline version of AIDS. To track the progress of this protein, researchers added another protein, usually found in jellyfish, that caused the cats to glow. This allowed for the progress of cells to be easily monitored. 

  • Flickr User: Nick Hobgood
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    LIGHTS OVER INK

    Speaking of security systems, Bobtail squids have one built in too. The animal houses luminescent bacteria in special organs. Once the bacteria get comfy, the squid can control the brightness and direction of the light to help it see through the dark waters of the deep. The bacterium also serves as extra eyes, generating a nervous signal when it detects something nearby.

  • Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images
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    ALLURING LIGHTS

    The three-inch-long firefly squid uses the bioluminescene in its tentacles to get the attention of its prey and lure them in. These tiny swimmers got national attention when a large number of them surfaced on a beach in Japan. Researchers also believe this is one of the few squids with color vision, so they can enjoy their blue glow as well.

  • Flickr User: Fatties16
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    SNEAKY FISH 

    The black dragonfish is as cool as it sounds. These deep-sea swimmers are covered in photo-spores from face to tailfin, giving it an electric look. The fish's bioluminescence is a big help when trying to track down food in the dark. 

  • Emory University
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    BRIGHT PRIMATE

    Rhesus monkeys aren't natural glowers. tTis bright baby boy was aided by science. Researchers added a protein to the fertilized egg that affected the DNA. One of the effects was the monkey's Hulk-like reaction to fluorescent light.

  • M Marschall/Newspix/Rex USA
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    JELLY DISCO

    Multiple species of jellyfish are also masters of bioluminescent feats. For example, the alarm jellyfish sets off its natural light show when it is under attack. The organism does this in hopes of attracting a larger creature to scare away its attacker.

  • Facebook: Waitomo Glowworm Caves
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    HOME SWEET HOME

    New Zealand glowworms put on quite a show in the Waitomo caves just by being themselves. These larvae use bioluminescence to burn off waste and attract food, and they depend on the damp environment of caves to mature. The large number of glowworms that call the cave home create quite a sight for tourists. 

  • Facebook: Flashlight Fish
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    WHAT STRANGE EYES YOU HAVE

    There's no on/off button here, but the flashlight fish is still a nifty tool. The sea creature uses bioluminescent organs under its eyes to communicate and confuse predators, as well as attract prey. Let's hope the power never goes out for them.