# @greenpeaceusa on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv7y2mqhjc3
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/8244746-greenpeaceusa-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/32ebba2f5e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-08-14T18:00:53.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) — https://gondola.cc/greenpeaceusa

## Caption

Can we all pause for a hot second and take a moment to bask in the glory that is this SEA SHEEP THAT CAN PHOTOSYNTHESIZE LIKE AN ACTUAL PLANT 🥹 This one has a super power – or should we say...a solar power ☀️👇⁣
⁣
Costasiella kuroshimae—also known as "leaf slug", "leaf sheep", or "salty ocean caterpillar"—is a species of sacoglossan (sap-sucking) sea slug. But it has earned the nickname "solar-powered sea slug." Why?⁣
⁣
☀️ The leaf sheep grazes on algae, sucks its chloroplasts (structures within the algae’s cells that contain chlorophyll, a green photosynthetic pigment) and keeps them within the tissues of its cerata for up to 10 days, a process called kleptoplasty. This allows it to supplement its diet through photosynthesis, which is generally known to be performed only by plants. It is one of few multicellular organisms that has this ability.⁣
⁣
The algal chloroplasts also provide protection by giving Leaf Sheep a green color for camouflage and chemical defenses to deter predators.⁣
⁣
Other fun Leaf Sheep facts you can share with your friends:⁣
⁣
🌱Its cerata are leaflike appendages akin to an aloe vera plant but typically with pink, purple or white tips, and they contain branches of digestive gland.⁣
⁣
🐑Their rhinophores resemble sheep's ears or insect antennae and pick up chemical signals in the water, giving the sea slug its sense of smell and enabling it to find food.⁣
⁣
🏠Leaf sheep live on Avrainvillea, a fuzzy, felty type of algae growing in areas with soft substrates, such as silt or fine sand.⁣
⁣
Among the threats to its survival are microplastics, which obstruct their mouth or digestive tract, making them starve 😭⁣
⁣
While their habitat is designated a Marine Protected Area to help protect the little leaf sheepies, plastic knows no boundaries.⁣
⁣
Just one more reason to #TurnOffThePlasticTap to protect marine creatures, from the very biggest...to the very smallest.⁣
⁣
We won a Global Ocean Treaty. Let's do a Global #PlasticsTreaty next >> LINK IN BIO <<⁣
⁣
Repost: greenpeace_canada 💚

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,519
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 32

## Tags

turnofftheplastictap, plasticstreaty

---
Copyright (c) Gondola