Photosynthetic animals : Sheep of the Sea

Costasiella kuroshimae is a species of sacoglossan sea slug ( their name (sacoglossans) comes from the sac used to catch their discarded worn teeth ) , a shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Costasiellidae.

It has the ability to incorporate chloroplasts from the algae it feeds on into its body and use them to do photosynthesis - aka.. kleptoplasty.

Described as having a white head with dark marks in the midline and a dark streak across the head just in front of the rhinophores. Also a dark grey-black streak behind the eyes in dorsal midline was described.

The tips of the white rhinophores were reported to be black. The cerata were described as 'generally green with white tips'. Iridescent dots are scattered over the green parts of the cerata.

Researchers have found that in addition tochloroplasts, a slug Elysia chlorotica can intake other photosynthetic genes in a 'horizontal genetic transfer' – a process in which genes are transferred between organisms where one is not the offspring of another.

II : Spotted Salamander :-Ambystoma maculatum :

The chloroplasts were found near the mitochondria within the salamander’s cells, meaning that the mitochondria were likely directly consuming the oxygen and carbohydrates that are created through photosynthesis.

III : Oriental Hornet - Vespa orientalis :

The oriental hornet, in contrast to the sea slug and spotted salamander, was discovered by Dr. Jacob Ishay to conduct electricity through the cuticle of its exoskeleton, as well as through silk surrounding the hornet pupae and the colony’s comb walls.

As opposed to stealing chloroplasts from algae, this photosynthetic insect’s yellow band contains xanthoperin, which actively absorbs light and converts it to electricity.  Microscopic grooves in the hornet’s exoskeleton trap sunlight, and as the photons reach the yellow pigment, they build up voltage.

I of IV : Costasiella kuroshimae

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II of IV : How to measure photosynthesis in action

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III of IV: photosynthetic animals

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IV of IV: Oriental Hornets convert light to electricity

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Oriental Hornets converts light to Electricity: ( Einstein's famous Photoelectric Effect )
The hornet can definitely transform solar radiation into electricity, as shining light on the cuticle generates a small voltage. But what does the insect do with it? ( enzymes in these regions perform metabolic functions similar to those of livers in mammals, and that they are more active when the insects were exposed to ultraviolet light).

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