Kleptoplasty*

By Rhiannonw
- 28 reads
Little Leaf Sheep**
(its 'face' looks a bit sheep-like,)
tiny*** attractive sea slug:
across its back are an array of leaf-like
Cerata protuberances –
green witth pink. purple or white tips.
Why are they green?
Well, it eats algae
and the chloroplasts
(the algae's little cell organelles
where sugar is manufactured
using sunlight – photosynthesis)
are engulfed**** and stored in the cerata
until they decay –
and so continue to make food for the little slug until they do.
*Kleptoplasty – stealing chloroplasts
**Costasiella kuroshimae
***about 1cm max
****phagocytosis
for picture a picture of the pretty little creature:
google Costasiella kuroshimae or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costasiella_kuroshimae
[IP: an animal]
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Comments
Great IP response Rhiannon,
Great IP response Rhiannon, and you're right, they look very pretty - thank you!
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