Overview
Solar powered sea slug is a species of marine gastropod mollusc which has the unique ability to consume chloroplasts from algae and incorporate them into its own tissues via a process called kleptoplasty. This process allows the species to directly use the sun’s energy to fuel its metabolic activities, such as movement and digestion, a process called photosynthesis. By incorporating the chloroplasts, the slug is able to produce energy without having to rely on external food sources. This makes the species highly resilient in changing environmental conditions. Solar powered sea slugs can also be used as an example of the unique ways organisms can adapt to their environment, and are of particular interest to scientists due to the potential implications of their ability to acquire energy from the sun.