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.
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?
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
I wish I could steal plant organs and then incorporate them into my own body
nods sagely in 40k ork sorta
That's so interesting! Thanks for sharing
They're dirty little thieves!