3 Amazing Photosynthetic Animals

Hank Green discusses the surprising ability of some animals to photosynthesize, a trait typically associated with plants. He highlights three examples: the eastern emerald elysia, a sea slug that uses algae genes; the pea aphid, which produces carotenoids for photosynthesis; and the spotted salamander, the only known photosynthetic vertebrate. These discoveries challenge the notion that only plants can harness sunlight for energy, opening up possibilities for future research and even human applications.

What are carotenoids, and why are they important for both plants and animals?

What implications could the discovery of photosynthesizing animals have for our understanding of biology?