Now this is interesting. In many ways.
Some sea slugs sever their own heads, grow whole new bodies |
Enough fun, on to the article.
For at least two species of sea slug, decapitation is no big deal. After purposefully severing its head, a sacoglossan sea slug can regrow its entire body, heart and all.
Scientists observed the phenomenon — detailed Monday in the journal Current Biology — while studying the development of the marine invertebrates, from eggs to adult sea slugs.
The slug’s bodiless head began feeding on algae just a few hours after scientists first spotted it.
Scientists kept a close eye on the slugs, and witnessed several more of them amputate their bodies.
Unfortunately for veteran slugs, decapitation and regeneration are a young slug’s game. The heads of older slugs survived for about a week, post-severance, but died without regrowing a body.
Scientists also aren’t yet sure why the slugs perform the amputation and regeneration, but they suspect the process may help slugs get rid of parasites that prevent healthy reproduction.
Well, wasn’t that interesting?
Perhaps infidel slugs evolved a defense against muslim slugs.
Do the bodies grow back new heads??
Sigh. Now the scientists are going to have to go back.