thats an extremely hard choice but if i were to give a top 5 it'd be brittle stars, pangolin snails, sacoglossans, the entirety of thesubmarine thermal vent ecosystem and salps
January 31, 2026 at 9:04 AM
thats an extremely hard choice but if i were to give a top 5 it'd be brittle stars, pangolin snails, sacoglossans, the entirety of thesubmarine thermal vent ecosystem and salps
autotomy is when a creature sheds part of itself (and regrows it). like lizards with their tails. well, some elysia sacoglossans can shed their entire bodies and regrow everything from the "neck" down (incl digestive system, reproductive organs, heart)
January 18, 2026 at 11:40 AM
autotomy is when a creature sheds part of itself (and regrows it). like lizards with their tails. well, some elysia sacoglossans can shed their entire bodies and regrow everything from the "neck" down (incl digestive system, reproductive organs, heart)
so many things to do but we will succeed and win!!
January 4, 2026 at 12:14 AM
so many things to do but we will succeed and win!!
Super Sacoglossans on a marvelous macrophyte?! Don’t mind if I do! #phycyeah #marinelife🦑🧪
#tidepooling In October I finally saw my first Hedgpeth's sapsuckers (Elysia hedgpethi). These are not nudibranchs or seahares, but are sacoglossans! They are easily found on the algae Codium (aka dead mans fingers), which they eat. 🦑🦀
December 30, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Super Sacoglossans on a marvelous macrophyte?! Don’t mind if I do! #phycyeah #marinelife🦑🧪
#tidepooling In October I finally saw my first Hedgpeth's sapsuckers (Elysia hedgpethi). These are not nudibranchs or seahares, but are sacoglossans! They are easily found on the algae Codium (aka dead mans fingers), which they eat. 🦑🦀
December 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
#tidepooling In October I finally saw my first Hedgpeth's sapsuckers (Elysia hedgpethi). These are not nudibranchs or seahares, but are sacoglossans! They are easily found on the algae Codium (aka dead mans fingers), which they eat. 🦑🦀
Sacoglossans (a type of sea slug) steal the chloroplasts from the algae they eat and can then use them to photosynthesize! They can go a long time without eating due to this.
They can also completely detach their bodies from their heads and regrow a whole new body! How fun!
They can also completely detach their bodies from their heads and regrow a whole new body! How fun!
a close up of a green and white sponge with purple spots
ALT: a close up of a green and white sponge with purple spots
media.tenor.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Sacoglossans (a type of sea slug) steal the chloroplasts from the algae they eat and can then use them to photosynthesize! They can go a long time without eating due to this.
They can also completely detach their bodies from their heads and regrow a whole new body! How fun!
They can also completely detach their bodies from their heads and regrow a whole new body! How fun!
this is what my current to-do list looks like... for recreation! i must admit i am SUCH a workaholic when it comes to my creative stuff lmfao.
December 15, 2025 at 1:38 PM
this is what my current to-do list looks like... for recreation! i must admit i am SUCH a workaholic when it comes to my creative stuff lmfao.
also we had a meeting with our new careers person and got to tell her about sacoglossans. so life is not too bad actually. joy, sacoglossan knowledge be upon ye!!
December 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
also we had a meeting with our new careers person and got to tell her about sacoglossans. so life is not too bad actually. joy, sacoglossan knowledge be upon ye!!
get to know your mutuals! list ten random things you like ೃ⁀➷
♡ sacoglossans
♡ jazz
♡ iced tea
♡ abstract art
♡ botanical gardens
♡ translated literature
♡ religious studies
♡ touhou doujin music
♡ macro photography
♡ fractals
♡ sacoglossans
♡ jazz
♡ iced tea
♡ abstract art
♡ botanical gardens
♡ translated literature
♡ religious studies
♡ touhou doujin music
♡ macro photography
♡ fractals
get to know your mutuals! list ten random things you like ೃ⁀➷
♡ cats
♡ owls
♡ zombies
♡ plushies
♡ pokemon
♡ japanese food/snacks
♡ video games
♡ heated blankets
♡ neopets
♡ drawing
♡ cats
♡ owls
♡ zombies
♡ plushies
♡ pokemon
♡ japanese food/snacks
♡ video games
♡ heated blankets
♡ neopets
♡ drawing
get to know your mutuals! list ten random things you like ೃ⁀➷
✿ berets
✿ beanies
✿ reading on the beach
✿ seaweed and rice
✿ asmr videos
✿ spring
✿ all things hair accessories
✿ finding / making personalised gifts w hand written cards
✿ taking polaroids of my loved ones
✿ corgis
✿ berets
✿ beanies
✿ reading on the beach
✿ seaweed and rice
✿ asmr videos
✿ spring
✿ all things hair accessories
✿ finding / making personalised gifts w hand written cards
✿ taking polaroids of my loved ones
✿ corgis
November 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
get to know your mutuals! list ten random things you like ೃ⁀➷
♡ sacoglossans
♡ jazz
♡ iced tea
♡ abstract art
♡ botanical gardens
♡ translated literature
♡ religious studies
♡ touhou doujin music
♡ macro photography
♡ fractals
♡ sacoglossans
♡ jazz
♡ iced tea
♡ abstract art
♡ botanical gardens
♡ translated literature
♡ religious studies
♡ touhou doujin music
♡ macro photography
♡ fractals
the reason for my name change is that i transed my beautiful species gender animal soul mind kin thing - lizards suit me fine, but sacoglossans suit me better!
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
the reason for my name change is that i transed my beautiful species gender animal soul mind kin thing - lizards suit me fine, but sacoglossans suit me better!
Happy #SeaSlugDay! Here are some of the #origami #nudibranchs that I have on display at the #Glasgow Art Club through 22 Nov.
On the wall is the unfolded crease pattern for one of the designs I make on repeat (foreground of the other image, copper and tan).
Working on new designs for sacoglossans!
On the wall is the unfolded crease pattern for one of the designs I make on repeat (foreground of the other image, copper and tan).
Working on new designs for sacoglossans!
October 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Happy #SeaSlugDay! Here are some of the #origami #nudibranchs that I have on display at the #Glasgow Art Club through 22 Nov.
On the wall is the unfolded crease pattern for one of the designs I make on repeat (foreground of the other image, copper and tan).
Working on new designs for sacoglossans!
On the wall is the unfolded crease pattern for one of the designs I make on repeat (foreground of the other image, copper and tan).
Working on new designs for sacoglossans!
Since someone asked and I managed to delete the dang ngl
The Sacoglossans are tiny seaslugs based off the real tiny seaslugs and are a semi-technologically advanced underwater tribal-monarchy.
I think the questioner asked if they were like a ZT version of marvels Wakanda and I'd say pretty much.
The Sacoglossans are tiny seaslugs based off the real tiny seaslugs and are a semi-technologically advanced underwater tribal-monarchy.
I think the questioner asked if they were like a ZT version of marvels Wakanda and I'd say pretty much.
October 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Since someone asked and I managed to delete the dang ngl
The Sacoglossans are tiny seaslugs based off the real tiny seaslugs and are a semi-technologically advanced underwater tribal-monarchy.
I think the questioner asked if they were like a ZT version of marvels Wakanda and I'd say pretty much.
The Sacoglossans are tiny seaslugs based off the real tiny seaslugs and are a semi-technologically advanced underwater tribal-monarchy.
I think the questioner asked if they were like a ZT version of marvels Wakanda and I'd say pretty much.
There's a few!
The sacoglossans reef dwellers are a group of mm-cm scale sea slugs that each minding their own buisness for the last while.
And the hive kingdoms of Apidae (honey bees) form various monarchies in forests.
But most other micro societies are nomadic or exist at mercy of larger peers
The sacoglossans reef dwellers are a group of mm-cm scale sea slugs that each minding their own buisness for the last while.
And the hive kingdoms of Apidae (honey bees) form various monarchies in forests.
But most other micro societies are nomadic or exist at mercy of larger peers
October 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
There's a few!
The sacoglossans reef dwellers are a group of mm-cm scale sea slugs that each minding their own buisness for the last while.
And the hive kingdoms of Apidae (honey bees) form various monarchies in forests.
But most other micro societies are nomadic or exist at mercy of larger peers
The sacoglossans reef dwellers are a group of mm-cm scale sea slugs that each minding their own buisness for the last while.
And the hive kingdoms of Apidae (honey bees) form various monarchies in forests.
But most other micro societies are nomadic or exist at mercy of larger peers
I also think they experience way greater speciation and often have entirely different senses relative to mammalian counterparts.
Apidaets probably put alot of emphasis on gestures and pheromones, while Sacoglossans incorporate alot of tactile and chemoreceptive stuff that mammals can't easily use.
Apidaets probably put alot of emphasis on gestures and pheromones, while Sacoglossans incorporate alot of tactile and chemoreceptive stuff that mammals can't easily use.
September 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I also think they experience way greater speciation and often have entirely different senses relative to mammalian counterparts.
Apidaets probably put alot of emphasis on gestures and pheromones, while Sacoglossans incorporate alot of tactile and chemoreceptive stuff that mammals can't easily use.
Apidaets probably put alot of emphasis on gestures and pheromones, while Sacoglossans incorporate alot of tactile and chemoreceptive stuff that mammals can't easily use.
𝐧𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐬: carnivorous; exposed gills; clubbed-shaped rhinophores
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐴𝑝𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑖𝑑𝑎): herbivorous; feeds on seaweed; less colourful
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 (clade Gymnosomata): foot developed into wing-like flaps; mostly transparent
𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐬: feed on algae; sequesters chloroplast for photosynthesis
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐴𝑝𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑖𝑑𝑎): herbivorous; feeds on seaweed; less colourful
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 (clade Gymnosomata): foot developed into wing-like flaps; mostly transparent
𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐬: feed on algae; sequesters chloroplast for photosynthesis
September 20, 2025 at 12:08 PM
𝐧𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐬: carnivorous; exposed gills; clubbed-shaped rhinophores
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐴𝑝𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑖𝑑𝑎): herbivorous; feeds on seaweed; less colourful
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 (clade Gymnosomata): foot developed into wing-like flaps; mostly transparent
𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐬: feed on algae; sequesters chloroplast for photosynthesis
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐴𝑝𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑖𝑑𝑎): herbivorous; feeds on seaweed; less colourful
𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 (clade Gymnosomata): foot developed into wing-like flaps; mostly transparent
𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐬: feed on algae; sequesters chloroplast for photosynthesis
Sea slugs are cute, beautiful and enchanting ✨🐌 But their name is just a colloquial umbrella term for many different ‘slug-like’ sea creatures. Let’s break it down once and for all! (Expand thread for typed version.)
#seaslugs #nudibranchs #sacoglossans #seahares #seaangels #marineanimals
#seaslugs #nudibranchs #sacoglossans #seahares #seaangels #marineanimals
September 20, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Sea slugs are cute, beautiful and enchanting ✨🐌 But their name is just a colloquial umbrella term for many different ‘slug-like’ sea creatures. Let’s break it down once and for all! (Expand thread for typed version.)
#seaslugs #nudibranchs #sacoglossans #seahares #seaangels #marineanimals
#seaslugs #nudibranchs #sacoglossans #seahares #seaangels #marineanimals
✨Species Spotlight✨
How do sacoglossans get their green color? Pictured is codium, also known as “dead man’s fingers”, the algae that the slugs steal chloroplasts from!
Photos taken by Grace Nyberg and Angela Jones from the Helmeuth lab. 💚
How do sacoglossans get their green color? Pictured is codium, also known as “dead man’s fingers”, the algae that the slugs steal chloroplasts from!
Photos taken by Grace Nyberg and Angela Jones from the Helmeuth lab. 💚
September 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
✨Species Spotlight✨
How do sacoglossans get their green color? Pictured is codium, also known as “dead man’s fingers”, the algae that the slugs steal chloroplasts from!
Photos taken by Grace Nyberg and Angela Jones from the Helmeuth lab. 💚
How do sacoglossans get their green color? Pictured is codium, also known as “dead man’s fingers”, the algae that the slugs steal chloroplasts from!
Photos taken by Grace Nyberg and Angela Jones from the Helmeuth lab. 💚
This is Costasiella kuroshimae, the sea sheep.
It's not a nudibranch, it's a sacoglossan, another mollusc clade. The green color is a tip-off: sacoglossans are herbivorous where nudis are carnivores.
Like nudibranchs they can eat things and then repurpose cells from them, in this case chloroplasts
It's not a nudibranch, it's a sacoglossan, another mollusc clade. The green color is a tip-off: sacoglossans are herbivorous where nudis are carnivores.
Like nudibranchs they can eat things and then repurpose cells from them, in this case chloroplasts
August 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This is Costasiella kuroshimae, the sea sheep.
It's not a nudibranch, it's a sacoglossan, another mollusc clade. The green color is a tip-off: sacoglossans are herbivorous where nudis are carnivores.
Like nudibranchs they can eat things and then repurpose cells from them, in this case chloroplasts
It's not a nudibranch, it's a sacoglossan, another mollusc clade. The green color is a tip-off: sacoglossans are herbivorous where nudis are carnivores.
Like nudibranchs they can eat things and then repurpose cells from them, in this case chloroplasts
It’s not just plants that photosynthesise! Solar powered sea slugs get their names from eating the chloroplast in algae, which lets them use photosynthesis as a source of energy. Sea slugs that do this are called “sacoglossans” and are often a vivid green colour. 💚
#NationalMarineWeek
📷 Dan Bolt
#NationalMarineWeek
📷 Dan Bolt
July 31, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It’s not just plants that photosynthesise! Solar powered sea slugs get their names from eating the chloroplast in algae, which lets them use photosynthesis as a source of energy. Sea slugs that do this are called “sacoglossans” and are often a vivid green colour. 💚
#NationalMarineWeek
📷 Dan Bolt
#NationalMarineWeek
📷 Dan Bolt
Also check out these awesome radula photos that my student Samantha Schlegel took for the paper! In sacoglossans the radula is a microscopic tooth-like structure that they use to pierce the algae that they feed on.
#microscopy #radula #mollusca
#microscopy #radula #mollusca
July 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Also check out these awesome radula photos that my student Samantha Schlegel took for the paper! In sacoglossans the radula is a microscopic tooth-like structure that they use to pierce the algae that they feed on.
#microscopy #radula #mollusca
#microscopy #radula #mollusca
So here is the closest I can get to something resembling an Easter Bunny.
An undescribed Eubranchus found in the Arabian Gulf when it was a toasty 37C at 15m deep.
#SeaSlugs #Invertebrates #Sacoglossans #MarineLife #UAE
#Macro
An undescribed Eubranchus found in the Arabian Gulf when it was a toasty 37C at 15m deep.
#SeaSlugs #Invertebrates #Sacoglossans #MarineLife #UAE
#Macro
April 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
So here is the closest I can get to something resembling an Easter Bunny.
An undescribed Eubranchus found in the Arabian Gulf when it was a toasty 37C at 15m deep.
#SeaSlugs #Invertebrates #Sacoglossans #MarineLife #UAE
#Macro
An undescribed Eubranchus found in the Arabian Gulf when it was a toasty 37C at 15m deep.
#SeaSlugs #Invertebrates #Sacoglossans #MarineLife #UAE
#Macro
It's World Aquatic Animal Day! So today, let’s celebrate sea slugs.
‘Sea slugs’ is an umbrella name we’ve given soft-bodied marine invertebrates that look slug-like: incl. nudibranchs, sacoglossans, sea hares, and bubble snails.
Do you have a favorite?
‘Sea slugs’ is an umbrella name we’ve given soft-bodied marine invertebrates that look slug-like: incl. nudibranchs, sacoglossans, sea hares, and bubble snails.
Do you have a favorite?
April 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
It's World Aquatic Animal Day! So today, let’s celebrate sea slugs.
‘Sea slugs’ is an umbrella name we’ve given soft-bodied marine invertebrates that look slug-like: incl. nudibranchs, sacoglossans, sea hares, and bubble snails.
Do you have a favorite?
‘Sea slugs’ is an umbrella name we’ve given soft-bodied marine invertebrates that look slug-like: incl. nudibranchs, sacoglossans, sea hares, and bubble snails.
Do you have a favorite?
So some sacoglossans are ‘solar-powered’. But not juliids. (Yeah, sorry for the build up.)
Juliids do hold onto the chloroplasts for a while, but the snails don’t get nutrition from photosynthesis. They do get camouflaged, though. They are very green. (4/9)
Pic: © uwkwaj CC BY-NC
Juliids do hold onto the chloroplasts for a while, but the snails don’t get nutrition from photosynthesis. They do get camouflaged, though. They are very green. (4/9)
Pic: © uwkwaj CC BY-NC
March 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
So some sacoglossans are ‘solar-powered’. But not juliids. (Yeah, sorry for the build up.)
Juliids do hold onto the chloroplasts for a while, but the snails don’t get nutrition from photosynthesis. They do get camouflaged, though. They are very green. (4/9)
Pic: © uwkwaj CC BY-NC
Juliids do hold onto the chloroplasts for a while, but the snails don’t get nutrition from photosynthesis. They do get camouflaged, though. They are very green. (4/9)
Pic: © uwkwaj CC BY-NC
Some sacoglossans retain these chloroplasts, which continue to photosynthesise, producing nutrients just as they would in algae. Sea slug = thank you very much!
This phenomenon of stealing chloroplasts is called kleptoplasty. (3/9)
Pics: © huxleyrose © Stefan CC BY-NC; © sea-kangaroo CC BY-NC-ND
This phenomenon of stealing chloroplasts is called kleptoplasty. (3/9)
Pics: © huxleyrose © Stefan CC BY-NC; © sea-kangaroo CC BY-NC-ND
March 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Some sacoglossans retain these chloroplasts, which continue to photosynthesise, producing nutrients just as they would in algae. Sea slug = thank you very much!
This phenomenon of stealing chloroplasts is called kleptoplasty. (3/9)
Pics: © huxleyrose © Stefan CC BY-NC; © sea-kangaroo CC BY-NC-ND
This phenomenon of stealing chloroplasts is called kleptoplasty. (3/9)
Pics: © huxleyrose © Stefan CC BY-NC; © sea-kangaroo CC BY-NC-ND