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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[–] GladimirLenin@hexbear.net 30 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Wish I could photosynthesize deeper-sadness

[–] Imnecomrade@hexbear.net 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] GladimirLenin@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

this little guys probably like "mmmmm, yum, the sun is extra nutritious today"

[–] Dirt_Owl@hexbear.net 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

How do they do it? Did chloroplasts evolve in them independent from plants, or is it like mitohondria thing where it started as some kind of symbiosis?

[–] 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

[–] Barx@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

They're dirty little thieves!

[–] NephewAlphaBravo@hexbear.net 21 points 3 weeks ago

That lil guy looks just like a cartoon sheep, that's absolutely delightful

[–] GenderIsOpSec@hexbear.net 20 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Cammy@hexbear.net 18 points 3 weeks ago

It's so pretty snom

[–] coeliacmccarthy@hexbear.net 16 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

there are other species suspected of doing the same, I would bet goddamn money that green aphids are capable of it as well

[–] Commiejones@hexbear.net 4 points 3 weeks ago

IIRC there's is a type of salamander that does the same thing.

[–] Cowbee@hexbear.net 11 points 3 weeks ago

What a lovely creature, it's so cute! Suckin in the suns rays, munching some photons, truly a noble beast egg-dog

[–] Evilsandwichman@hexbear.net 9 points 3 weeks ago

Oh....my.....GOD! The middle ground for omnivores and vegans!

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 6 points 3 weeks ago
[–] CommCat@hexbear.net 5 points 3 weeks ago

nature's jus' wild, man

So friggin cute!!! 🥺

[–] Flyberius@hexbear.net 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Man. Life is incredible. Every now and then I read about some awesome creature doing something weird or different and I'm just like, damn...

Only the other day I found out lichen was a colony of fungus, plant and yeast and not just a single organism.