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Sea mouse (Aphrodita sp.)
Sea mouse (Aphrodita sp.). This bottom-dwelling marine worm can reach 15-20 centimetres in length and 5 centimetres in width. The entire dorsal surface of the sea mouse is covered with hairs known as setae. These are normally red, but produce a strong iridescence under certain directions of light. This is due to each spine acting as a photonic crystal which only reflects light of a specified wavelength. The range of wavelengths prevented from being transmitted is called the band-gap. The sea mouse spine has a band-gap in the red region of the spectrum. However when light falls perpendicular to the spine, different colours such as blues and greens appear. Photonic crystals may find uses in optical computers and telecommunications.
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