this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
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Costasiella kuroshimae

Costasiella kuroshimae—also known as a "leaf slug",[1] or "leaf sheep"[2]—is a species of sacoglossan sea slug. Costasiella kuroshimae are shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Costasiellidae.[3] Despite being animals they indirectly perform photosynthesis, via kleptoplasty.[4]

Just look at that little homie.

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[–] ZoomeristLeninist@hexbear.net 33 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

according to this article, its through kleptoplasty-- they eat algae and absorb the chloroplast of the algae into its own cells. the article claimed this is likely due to horizontal gene transfer from algae to sea slug of transcription factors necessary for the chloroplasts to function

[–] booty@hexbear.net 25 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I wish I could steal plant organs and then incorporate them into my own body sicko-wistful

[–] keepcarrot@hexbear.net 23 points 3 weeks ago

nods sagely in 40k ork sorta

[–] Dirt_Owl@hexbear.net 20 points 3 weeks ago

That's so interesting! Thanks for sharing