''Vargula'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

in the

Cypridinidae Cypridinidae is a family of ostracods. About half of all known species are bioluminescent Bioluminescence is the emission of light during a chemiluminescence reaction by living organisms. Bioluminescence occurs in multifarious organisms r ...

. The genus contains

bioluminescent Bioluminescence is the emission of light during a chemiluminescence reaction by living organisms. Bioluminescence occurs in multifarious organisms ranging from marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms inc ...

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 waters; ...

'' (formerly ''Cypridina hilgendorfii''), native to Japan, is likely the best-studied ''Vargula''. Some species currently within ''Vargula'' (e.g. '' Vargula tsujii'') may be split into their own genus.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q4574764 Ostracod genera Bioluminescent ostracods Myodocopida