Amazing Sea Slug Runs On Solar Power And Looks Like A Tiny Sheep
The oceans of the world contain some amazing things. One of its most mind-blowing inhabitants is a tiny, solar-powered sea slug that only grows up to 5mm (0.2 inches) long and looks like a cute little sheep.
Called the Costasiella Kuroshimae (or ‘Leaf Sheep’), this is one of the very few animals in the world able to photosynthesis its food, retaining special chloroplasts from algae in its body after feeding to use as energy to get through the day.
In Japanese, sea slugs are called umiushi, literally translated as “sea cow”. This slug may not look entirely like a cow but it does like to feast on grassy mounds.
The adorable sea critter can be found in the waters off Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. This particular type of sea slug takes its scientific name from Kuroshima, or Kuro Island, in Japan’s Yaeyama Islands, where it was first found.
Share this adorable sea creature with your cool and crazy friends! Pass it on!
Photos by Jim Lynn
