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Sea Slug

All articles tagged with #sea slug

science18 days ago•2 min saved

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.

via The Guardian|

#costasiella-kuroshimae #kleptoplasty #leaf-sheep

nature2 years ago•2 min saved

"Venomous Theft: The Deadly Sea Slug's Lethal Strategy"

The blue dragon, a tiny sea slug found in tropical and subtropical waters, has a striking appearance and a unique lifestyle. It feeds on venomous creatures such as Portuguese men o'war and stores their stinging cells for self-defense. Its ability to release these cells all at once makes it dangerous to swimmers and beachgoers. Additionally, as hermaphrodites, they have both male and female reproductive organs and lay strings of eggs that hatch in a few days.

via Livescience.com|

#blue-dragon #glaucus-atlanticus #nature

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unveiling a New Sea Creature Species in UK Waters"

Researchers have discovered a new species of sea slug, named Pleurobranchaea britannica, off the waters of the U.K. Initially mistaken for a well-known species, DNA analysis and physical characteristics revealed its distinctiveness, marking the first recorded instance of a sea slug from the Pleurobranchaea genus in U.K. waters. The discovery highlights the ongoing potential for new findings in marine ecology and emphasizes the ocean's unexplored secrets, even in well-studied areas.

via CBS News|

#dna-analysis #marine-ecology #new-species