Sun-powered sea slug steals chloroplasts to photosynthesize
The leaf sheep, Costasiella kuroshimae, is a tiny tropical sea slug that uses kleptoplasty to steal intact chloroplasts from algae and power itself via photosynthesis, thanks to its green cerata that double as solar panels and camouflage. Described scientifically in 1993, it has become popular through macro photography and is a leading candidate for Invertebrate of the Year 2026, with readers praising its ingenuity and adorable appearance.