I Get So Confused Whenever I See An AI-generated Sea Slug Of A Species That Doesn't Even Exist, Like

ScienceAlert

The Y Chromosome Is Slowly Vanishing. A New Sex Gene May Be The Future of Men.

The sex of human and other mammal babies is decided by a male-determining gene on the Y chromosome.

The sex of human and other mammal babies is decided by a male-determining gene on the Y chromosome. But the human Y chromosome is degenerating and may disappear in a few million years, leading to our extinction unless we evolve a new sex gene. The good news is two branches of rodents have already lost their Y chromosome and have lived to tell the tale. A 2022 paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science shows how the spiny rat has evolved a new male-determining gene.

Continue Reading.

@confidently-regretful

(Sorry to be that guy but) the leaf sheep is not actually a nudibranch, but instead part of the closely related order sacoglossa. Nudibranches are carnivorous while sacoglossa are herbivorous and feed by sucking the sap out of microscopic algae. Many sacoglossa perform a process called kleptoplasty, where they reuse chloroplasts from the algal sap they feed on and implement them into their cells. Some notable examples are the bivalve snails in the family juliidae, the eastern emerald elysia (elysia chlorotica) and obviously the sea sheep. Another slug from the order elysia (elysia rufescens) reuses defensive molecules called kahalalides as well as chloroplasts. Most sacoglossans survive primarily through heterotrophic means (ingesting and digesting) and photosynthesise when food is scarce or unavailable as a last resort. Though research has shown leaf sheep can survive long periods of time with little to no food of heterotrophic or homotrophic (photosynthetic) origin. They store their chloroplasts in cerata, which are structures often found on nudibranches and regularly used for gas exchange or- in blue glaucus’ case- for attack and defence. They also have rhinophores protruding from their face, structures also commonly found on nudibranches, which are chemosensory organs (essentially face tongues) that appear ear like on nudibranches and sacoglossans alike.

To conclude: while leaf sheep are very similar to nudibranches, they belong to the sacoglossan family (which is good because sacoglossans are just as cool) and luckily are not the only animals to photosynthesise.

(I’m researching them for a highschool project and am so obsessed haha)

So not technically a fish but I absolutely love these lil fellas

They’re Nudibranch sea slugs and they all look so pretty!!!!!

Some notable exception are the Sea Bunny (left) which is just the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen

And the Leaf Sheep (right), which is the only animal known to be capable of photosynthesis!

i am SUCH a nudibranch fan oh my god. actual underwater fae creatures. beloved little freak animals. i want to eat them like cereal

🐙 Daily Cephalopod Fact: 🐙

Flamboyant Cuttlefish: Cuttlefish have a specialized, hollow feature called a cuttlebone that helps the animal maintain buoyancy by adjusting the levels of gas and liquid in its chambers.1 Because the flamboyant cuttlefish’s cuttlebone is relatively small, this species can only float and swim for short amounts of time. Instead of swimming, flamboyant cuttlefish “walk” along the ocean floor using their arms. They also have a highly developed sensory system that helps them respond and adjust to their surroundings.

I just discovered the blanket octopus. Would you do a fact on them if not already done? 👀

Sure friend! I am a daily fish fact account only, but I simply couldn't not say something about the magnificent blanket octopus :)

Here is a blanket octopus female! How do I know that? Simple: the males of the species only reach about 2 and a half centimeters, while the females can be as large as two meters long! The species is named after this gorgeous lady's webs that connect to her arms.

"Blanket octopus" refers to four different species actually! And they're all immune to the extremely venomous Portuguese man o' war, young females and males will in fact rip out a dangerous and venomous tentacle from these animals to defend themselves! It is extremely interesting and exciting what kinds of things octopuses are capable of :)

Every 10 Minutes!!!!!!