Sacoglossan

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A type of small marine sea slug known for its ability to retain chloroplasts from algae it consumes, enabling it to perform photosynthesis; belonging to a group characterized by this unique kleptoplasty trait
2. Refers to a class of sacoglossan mollusks that possess the distinctive capacity to incorporate and maintain functional chloroplasts within their bodies after feeding on algae, sometimes called "solar-powered" sea slugs
3. Denotes a marine gastropod mollusk within the sacoglossan order, recognized for its specialized feeding on algal cells and the ability to utilize stolen chloroplasts to derive energy through photosynthesis

Etymology: The name is built from two Greek words: "sakkos," a bag or sack, and "glossa," tongue. It belongs to the order Sacoglossa, named for the radula, the toothed ribbon these animals use to feed, which sits in a sac-like pouch. The name was formed from classical roots to describe that anatomy. The feeding habit is the more striking part. Many species pierce individual algal cells, suck out their contents, and keep the chloroplasts intact within their own digestive gland. These borrowed plastids can keep photosynthesizing for weeks, and in some species for months, so the animal partly runs on sunlight it did not capture itself. The same "-an" ending serves both as a noun for an individual animal and as an adjective, which is why the word works in both roles.

Synonyms: sap-sucking sea slug