A Species Of Sea Slugs Is Able To Photosynthesize From The Algae It Feeds On

Jan 06, 2020

There are so many extraordinary beautiful surprises at the bottom of the sea and this cute little sea slug is definitely one of them. It's so adorable it almost doesn't look real, but it is definitely a living being. Known as a leaf sheep, or more formally Costasiella kuroshimae, this little cutie has beady little eyes, a fluffy body and oversized wonky feelers that make it look like a cartoon sea sheep!

It isn't just adorable but actually has a special talent that is rare and multi-purpose. This little sea slug is unique though in that it eats so many algae that it actually performs photosynthesis, a beneficial feature for all animals. When this little slug eats algae, it sucks out the chloroplasts and incorporates them into their own bodies, a process known as kleptoplasty. A part of the sacoglossan sea slug family, the leaf slug can live for months alone on the energy that is extracted by photosynthesizing algae. In the rest of the living animal kingdom, this process is usually only performed by single-celled organisms.

The leaf slug is not just functional but absolutely adorable. Watching the little sea sheep move slowly and eat the algae doesn't almost seem real! It is small, growing only to 5mm in length and can be found in the oceans near Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They come in many different shapes and vivid colors. They're so adorable you almost want to bring one home and keep it as a pet but that wouldn't be wise because it only thrives in the bottom of the ocean where the food supply is abundant.

Have you ever heard about the leaf slug before? Let us know in the comments and be sure to let others know about this skillful little creature as well!