Costasiella kuroshimae are capable of a physiological process called kleptoplasty, in which they retain the chloroplasts from the algae they feed on. Absorbing the chloroplasts from algae then enables them to indirectly perform photosynthesis.[6]
And I’m pretty sure there are also jellyfish that live in symbyosis with algae that they carry along with them which photosynthesize, creating sugars for the jellyfish.
Eh, that’s a few dozen steps removed. By that standard, every herbivore “uses” photosynthesis.
These guys (coral & lichen too) use photosynthesis much more directly, completely encapsulating the algea and supporting it internally. It’s much closer to mitochondria.
I mean honestly? If you’re not even keeping full cells from the prey, I think we can give it to them. Lil guy, you can photosynthesize. No need to bother them with the asterisks.
The really interesting thing about costasiella kuroshimae is that its digestive system branches and goes up into all of those ‘leaves’, which is how the algae makes its way there to have its chloroplasts extracted.
Kinda but not quite:
Source: Costasiella kuroshimae
And I’m pretty sure there are also jellyfish that live in symbyosis with algae that they carry along with them which photosynthesize, creating sugars for the jellyfish.
homo sapiens is known to use photosynthesis through symbiotic relationships with various grasses to create sugars, lipids, and proteins for itself
Eh, that’s a few dozen steps removed. By that standard, every herbivore “uses” photosynthesis.
These guys (coral & lichen too) use photosynthesis much more directly, completely encapsulating the algea and supporting it internally. It’s much closer to mitochondria.
True haha, thats a good distinction. I’m just joking here.
Kind of interesting that chloroplasts in plants seem to be a sort of symbiosis as well, like mitochondria, considering the cell walls around them.
Yes, they are distinct organelles with their own DNA, so you are spot on with the comparison to mitochondria
Reminds me of Lichen! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen
So vampire photosynthesis.
That’s metal af.
Or rogue photosynthesis.
Also metal af
I mean honestly? If you’re not even keeping full cells from the prey, I think we can give it to them. Lil guy, you can photosynthesize. No need to bother them with the asterisks.
The really interesting thing about costasiella kuroshimae is that its digestive system branches and goes up into all of those ‘leaves’, which is how the algae makes its way there to have its chloroplasts extracted.
I like how it’s appropriate to call it “-plasty” twice (first in the referring to chloroplasts sense, and then again in the plastic surgery sense).
So it’s MegaMan?