Ever wondered how we derive food from plants? It’s via Photosynthesis, yes you guessed it correct. But have you ever imagined if you can do the process of Photosynthesis? Well, there is one animal that can undertake its own photosynthesis and it’s scientifically called Costasiella Kuroshimae.
Found in the waters of Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, Costasiella Kuroshimae which is also known as ‘Leaf Slug’ or ‘Leaf Sheep’ is a multi-cellular animal clad sea slug which is capable to partake itself in the process of photosynthesis.
These tiny creatures will grow up to 5mm in length and has beady eyes, feelers that feed on algae and are the only creatures on earth that can perform Photosynthesis.
This process of Costasiella Kuroshimae is performed where they suck out the chloroplasts of the algae and incorporate them into their own bodies with the process called “kleptoplasty”.
The process of Kleptoplasty was done by single-celled organisms and Costasiella Kuroshimae only one such multi-cellular organism which can perform this function.
Costasiella Kuroshimae is a small multi-cellular organism which has the Cerata which are leaf-like appendage which covers its body. These cerata are filled with algal chloroplasts which help to perform the function of photosynthesis through the organelle called the chloroplast.
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With the process of Kleptoplasty, these little sea slugs can survive months on end by producing their own food with the help of water and light which they convert into usable energy that is the food.
These species of sea slugs are found in waters of Japan mainly, and waters of the Philippines and Indonesia and are cute to look at, however, as these are tiny minuscule species it is difficult to observe at first glance and they need sharp eyesight or a magnifier to view these species which are coloured in green colour due to their food from algae.
