How can the sea slug Elysia Chlorotica photosynthesis?
How can the sea slug Elysia Chlorotica photosynthesis?
Elysia chlorotica, a sea slug able of drawing its energy from photosynthesis! During digestion, the photosynthetic cells from the algae are only partially destroyed: their chloroplasts remain intact and allow Elysia to use the products of photosynthesis to feed itself.
What are photosynthetic slugs?
Some members of this group use chloroplasts from the algae they eat for photosynthesis, a phenomenon known as kleptoplasty. Elysia chlorotica is one of these “solar-powered sea slugs”….Elysia chlorotica.
| Eastern emerald elysia | |
|---|---|
| Species: | E. chlorotica |
| Binomial name | |
| Elysia chlorotica Gould, 1870 |
What is unique about the marine slug Elysia Chlorotica?
These animals, Elysia chlorotica, which live off the U.S. East Coast, are not merely content to glide about munching algae. Instead, they steal the molecular engines that allow plants to harvest solar energy. The slugs take up these mini-machines, called chloroplasts, into their skin, which turns them emerald green.
Is Elysia Chlorotica capable of photosynthesis?
Elysia chlorotica, also called emerald green sea slug or eastern emerald elysia, species of sea slug belonging to the family Elysiidae (order Sacoglossa) and known for its ability to photosynthesize food.
How does a photosynthetic slug help the environment?
Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae.
When was the Elysia chlorotica discovered?
Elysia chlorotica Gould, 1870.
Are sea slugs Autotrophs?
Meet the sea slugs who double up as plants (well kind of) by creating their own energy via photosynthesis. It is perhaps one of the greatest evolutionary adaptations to be both heterotrophic like animals and autotrophic like plants. …
When was the Elysia Chlorotica discovered?
What is Elysia chlorotica?
The sea slug called Elysia chlorotica is a small 5 cm-long marine gastropod. It lives in shallow waters along the east coast of North America. This strange slug looks like a leaf. It’s green! When the sun shines, it spreads out, as if to enjoy the sun. How is that possible? Elysia chlorotica feeds on filamentous algae such as Vaucheria littorea.
Which sea slug draws its energy from photosynthesis?
Elysia chlorotica, a sea slug able of drawing its energy from photosynthesis! The sea slug called Elysia chlorotica is a small 5 cm-long marine gastropod. It lives in shallow waters along the east coast of North America. This strange slug looks like a leaf.
What is the scientific name of the green sea slug?
Elysia chlorotica, also called emerald green sea slugor eastern emerald elysia, speciesof sea slugbelonging to the family Elysiidae (order Sacoglossa) and known for its ability to photosynthesizefood.
What does a sea slug look like in real life?
The sea slug called Elysia chlorotica is a small 5 cm-long marine gastropod. It lives in shallow waters along the east coast of North America. This strange slug looks like a leaf. It’s green! When the sun shines, it spreads out, as if to enjoy the sun.