xi's moments
Home | Society

Rare leaf sheep sea slug photographed in Hainan for the first time

By CHEN BOWEN in Haikou | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2026-06-02 18:32

A leaf sheep sea slug is spotted for the first time at Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan province. [Photo by Gong Qiya/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuzhizhou Island is home to China's first tropical marine ranch. Marine experts said the species' presence indicates a healthy, stable ecosystem with rich biodiversity.

The leaf sheep sea slug's beady eyes and flat face make it look like an adorable cartoon sheep. An adult of the species measures less than 1 centimeter and is known for its ability to photosynthesize by incorporating chloroplasts from algae it consumes, a trait called kleptoplasty.

|<< Previous 1 2 3 4 Next   >>|
Global Edition
BACK TO THE TOP
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349