Science fiction is rarely as inventive as our natural world. For example: The Eastern Emerald Elysia sea slug ingests chloroplasts from algae. After a single meal, they're able to consistently process these chloroplasts independently and use them for photosynthesis like any plant. This beautiful leaf-shaped creature lives in shallow pools off the Atlantic coast of North America. |
What if humans encountered an alien race of plant-animal hybrids, mobile humanoids dependent on photosynthesis, or plants with predatory characteristics. The possibilities are endless . . .