Some species know how to make a quiet exit. But the deep-sea shrimp retreats in a blaze of bioluminescent glory. When confronted by a predator, the bright red critter spews a glowing blue ooze from the base of its antennae into the water.

The light temporarily stuns the offender, giving the shrimp precious time to back-flip its way to safety. It's similar to the time-tested strategy used by squids and octopuses, which squirt clouds of ink into the faces of their enemies.