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Leafy Sheep

Short answer: Costasiella kuroshimae, nicknamed the leaf sheep, is a sea slug about 5 millimeters long found in shallow waters around Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Its back is covered in green, leaf-like cerata.

It eats algae and keeps their chloroplasts in its tissues, a process called kleptoplasty; how much energy it gains from them is still studied. The footage shows macro views of the slug.

VideoWrite-up2 sources
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What should you know about Leafy Sheep?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Costasiella kuroshimae.

    DD-377-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Species)

  2. About 5 mm.

    DD-377-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Size)

Video transcript: Leafy Sheep: A Sea Slug That Looks Like a Tiny Cartoon Sheep

Did you know, the leaf sheep, scientifically known as Costasiella kuroshimae, is a tiny [...] slug known for, its plant-like appearance and unique ability to photosynthesize found in the shallow waters around Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This 5mm long sea slug resembles a miniature sheep covered in green leaf-like structures. These green leaves are actually cerata, small appendages that allow the leaf sheep to absorb chloroplast from the algae it consumes. A process called kleptoplasty. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.0s Reel ·

Video coming soonLeafy Sheep · Instagram Reel
Leafy Sheep: A Sea Slug That Looks Like a Tiny Cartoon Sheep Instagram Reel · · 26.0s

The write-up

A sea slug that looks like a tiny cartoon sheep. It keeps chloroplasts from the algae it eats.

  1. Exhibit A

    Species

    Costasiella kuroshimae.

  2. Exhibit B

    Size

    About 5 mm.

  3. Exhibit C

    Range

    Japan, Indonesia, Philippines.

  4. Exhibit D

    Cerata

    Leaf-like cerata.

  5. Exhibit E

    Kleptoplasty

    It keeps algal chloroplasts.

Questions people ask about Leafy Sheep

What is it nicknamed?

Looks like.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Species) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

How long is it?

Tiny.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

What does it steal?

From algae.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Range) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

What is that called?

Stealing plastids.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Cerata) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

What are its leaf-like parts?

On its back.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Kleptoplasty) · Wikipedia: Kleptoplasty

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What is it nicknamed?

    1. Leaf sheep
    2. Sea cow
    3. Moss goat
    4. Coral cat
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Leaf sheep Looks like. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Species) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

  2. How long is it?

    1. About 5 mm
    2. 5 cm
    3. 50 cm
    4. 5 m
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 5 mm Tiny. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

  3. What does it steal?

    1. Chloroplasts
    2. Shells
    3. Eggs
    4. Venom
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Chloroplasts From algae. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Range) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

  4. What is that called?

    1. Kleptoplasty
    2. Photosynthesis only
    3. Molting
    4. Symbiosis
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Kleptoplasty Stealing plastids. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Cerata) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae

  5. What are its leaf-like parts?

    1. Cerata
    2. Gills
    3. Fins
    4. Tentacles
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Cerata On its back. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Kleptoplasty) · Wikipedia: Kleptoplasty

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Leafy Sheep." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-377, last updated Nov 18, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/leafy-sheep/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/leafy-sheep/ · Last updated

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