''Vargula'' is a genus in the

Cypridinidae Cypridinidae is a family of ostracods, containing the following genera: *'' Amphisiphonostra'' Poulsen, 1962 *'' Azygocypridina'' Sylvester-Bradley, 1950 *'' Bathyvargula'' Kornicker, 1968 *'' Codonocera'' Brady, 1902 *'' Cypridina'' Milne-Edwa ...

. The genus contains

bioluminescent Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some Fungus, fungi, microorganisms including ...

species. ''

Vargula hilgendorfii ''Vargula hilgendorfii'', sometimes called the sea-firefly and one of three bioluminescent species known in Japan as umi-hotaru (海蛍), is a species of ostracod crustacean. It is the only member of genus '' Vargula'' to inhabit Japanese wate ...

'' (formerly ''Cypridina hilgendorfii''), native to Japan, is likely the best-studied

Vargula species ''Vargula'' is a genus in the Cypridinidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species. ''Vargula hilgendorfii ''Vargula hilgendorfii'', sometimes called the sea-firefly and one of three bioluminescent species known in Japan as umi-hotaru (� ...

. Some species currently within Vargula (e.g. ''

Vargula tsujii ''Vargula tsujii'' is a bioluminescent cypridinid ostracod found in southern California. It feeds on dead and decaying fish and invertebrates. Vargula tsujii is an important prey item of the plainfin midshipman fish (''Porichthys notatus''), as it ...

'') may be split into their own genus.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q4574764 Ostracod genera Bioluminescent ostracods