# Leafy Sheep (DD-377)

> 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.

- Department: Nature
- First published: 2024-11-18
- Last updated: 2024-11-18
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/leafy-sheep/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-377-F01**: Costasiella kuroshimae. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Species))_
- **DD-377-F02**: About 5 mm. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Size))_

## Write-up

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

1. **Species**: Costasiella kuroshimae.
2. **Size**: About 5 mm.
3. **Range**: Japan, Indonesia, Philippines.
4. **Cerata**: Leaf-like cerata.
5. **Kleptoplasty**: It keeps algal chloroplasts.

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: The Reel says it can photosynthesize; it keeps chloroplasts from algae, but how much energy it actually gains is uncertain.

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

- Duration: 26.0 s · Published: 2024-11-18
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DChQkvupLKy.mp4

### Transcript

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!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What is it nicknamed?**  
A: Looks like. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Species) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae)_

**Q: How long is it?**  
A: Tiny. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae)_

**Q: What does it steal?**  
A: From algae. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Range) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae)_

**Q: What is that called?**  
A: Stealing plastids. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Cerata) · Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae)_

**Q: What are its leaf-like parts?**  
A: On its back. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Kleptoplasty) · Wikipedia: Kleptoplasty)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Costasiella kuroshimae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costasiella_kuroshimae)
- [Wikipedia: Kleptoplasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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/