Plant Or Animal...?

Here is a case of nature's ability to confuse us all. This critter can change from plant to anima...and back again. How is that for strange?

Mesodinium Chamaeleon

Photo credit: Ojvind Moestrup/Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology

Microscopic in size, Mesodinium chamaeleon has scientists stymied. It’s not a plant, but it’s not an animal, either. As an animal, it uses its hair-like cilia to swim about, devouring plants. After feeding, it turns into a plant itself and is able to photosynthesize. After a while, it consumes the chlorophyll granules it obtained by eating the plant and reverts into an animal to begin the process of transformations anew. The bizarre creature dwells at the bottom of the ocean. In 2012, it was discovered off the coast of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Scientists are mystified by it. They can’t describe it in detail, and they haven’t been able to determine the amount of energy it obtains from photosynthesis. They also don’t know why it eats the chlorophyll granules it acquires. Further discoveries await “getting this animal-plant established in a culture in our laboratory,” says Ojvind Moestrup, a professor in the Marine Biological Section of the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Biology.

I found this article over at Listverse. Seems to me this certainly qualifies as a good Monday Mystery, don't you think?

Coffee out on the patio today, where it's gonna be dry and hot.