Vita Incognita #2: Elysia chlorotica, the photosynthetic animal
Elysia chlorotica, also known as the "sap-sucking slug," defies conventional wisdom as a photosynthetic animal. This marine creature incorporates chloroplasts from algae it consumes, enabling it to harness sunlight for energy.
This phenomenon is known as kleptoplasty. It’s basically stealing plasts from a photosynthetic organism and using them as an energy source. We get a subcellular endosymbiotic relationship between an animal, and chloroplasts of an alga.****
Scientists estimate that Elysia can live up to 10 days without feeding, using only photosythesis to produce calories.