These Solar-Powered Carnivorous Flatworms Divide and Conquer | Deep Look

Tiny marine flatworms called acoels hunt for prey in coral reefs. They’re referred to as “plant-animals’’ because they’ve got a partnership with photosynthetic algae that live inside of them. But this acoel’s real superpower is its ability to regenerate any part of its body! PATREON SPECIAL OFFER: DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED in San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small. --- Researchers are studying a species of tiny marine flatworm called an acoel that has some surprisingly amazing abilities, despite being smaller than a grain of rice. “They have two very obvious superpowers,” says Dania Nanes Sarfati, a researcher at Stanford University who studies acoels. “They are able to regenerate any part of their body. And they also have a very intimate relationship with algae that they keep inside their bodies that they exchange energy and other nutrients with. When you look at them, they just look like a little worm, but if you look inside you can see there’s this green photosynthetic algae that are living between the acoel cells.” In addition to catching prey to eat, acoels will flatten themselves out in sunny spots so that their photosynthetic internal algae can absorb sunshine. “It’s like they’re on vacation every day,” says Nanes Sarfati. --- What are acoels? Acoels are a group of small, simple, soft-bodied flatworms that mostly live in marine environments. Acoels lack a permanent but they do have a mouth that they use to eat prey. --- What do acoels eat? Acoels eat tiny prey like planktonic plants and animals that float in the water. An acoel will expand its head like a net to engulf its prey and then jam its meal into its mouth. --- How do you pronounce acoel? Acoel is pronounced “a seal.” --- Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science: --- For more information: Acoels by Sarah J. Bourlat and Andreas Hejnol (09) Sikes Lab at University of San Francisco Dania Nanes Sarfati --- More great Deep Look episodes: Want a Whole New Body? Ask This Flatworm How | Deep Look The Undying Hydra: A Freshwater Mini-Monster That Defies Aging | Deep Look This Snail Goes Fishing With a Net Made of Slime | Deep Look --- Shoutout! 🏆Congratulations🏆 to these 2 fans on our Deep Look Community Tab for correctly answering our GIF challenge! @mk_rexx @raulkaap --- Thank you to our top Patreon supporters ($10 per month)! Burt Humburg Max Paladino Karen Reynolds Daisuke Goto Chris B Emrick Tianxing Wang David Deshpande Wade Tregaskis Laurel Przybylski Cristen Rasmussen Mark Jobes El Samuels Carrie Mukaida Marilyn Schiffman Jessica Hiraoka Louis O’Neill Noreen Herrington Levi Cai Elizabeth Ann Ditz Jeremiah Sullivan Roberta K Wright Titania Juang Jellyman Mehdi Syniurge SueEllen McCann KW xkyoirre --- Follow Deep Look and KQED Science on social: @deeplookofficial Instagram: Twitter: --- About KQED KQED, an NPR and PBS member station in San Francisco, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, radio and web media. Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the members of KQED.