I never thought I’d say this, but I’m jealous of a slug. Actually, more accurately, I’m kind of wishing I was this slug. Okay, maybe not. But, I do wish I could photosynthesize the way plants do, and apparently there’s a sea slug that can do just that. Yep! A slug that’s taken on the food-making abilities of plants is out there, and apparently it can live on its own chlorophyll food production facilities given sunlight.
After reading this, I’ll have to rethink any earlier assumptions about what being slug-like really means. From now on, it’ll be a statement of awe, and yes, I’m green with envy despite lacking chlorophyll of my own. This amazing creature has the independence of an animal yet isn’t hobbled by the need to eat. So long as the sun continues to shine, it has a life free from foraging. Once when traveling with friends in Maui and bobbing peacefully and blissfully in the ocean surf under a delicate, island rain, I expressed a dream to someday have the job of floating in those same tropical waters to be sure the floating was just right. Just think: if I could photosynthesize and be my own power plant like this amazing sea creature, I could be one step closer to this dream.
Or would I just be one step closer to becoming a sea slug? Hard to say. Regardless, floating in the tropics and photosynthesizing my own energy still sounds pretty good right about now!
Tags: photosynthesis, sea slug
