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!

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.

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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

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

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[vbgvbg]

>be flatworm
>get ripped in half lengthwise
>relatively minor injury
>regenerate 300%

life is good

[saintantonius]

Whenever there is a flatworm, there's almost always a scalpel. It's almost like a symbiotic relationship. 😆

[celarts]

Idk why but flatworms are weirdly cute to me, like their lil faces are adorable

[lil----lil]

Tardigrade: I'm immortal!
Acoels: Hold my poop!

[haf]

I don't like flatworms but for this orange cornflakes, I'll give an exception

[bokkenka]

I'm not overweight... I'm overpopulated.

[JustYourAverageGirl]

When someone says flatworms, what usually comes to mind is like, tapeworms or the hammerhead worm which is invasive and nasty. These are....kind of cute.

[henchman]

the fact that the butt splits into TWO heads, is just, as horrifying as it is awesome

[jheckie]

1:15 "you wouldn't kiss a butt" Oh, Laura, sweet summer child Laura...

[infernus..]

You always amaze me with strange creatures that I never knew existed on Earth

[Kennmnny]

Man, i just love these solar powered, immortal, poop spitting, orange sea cornflakes.

[NewMessage]

Well.


* pushes bowl of corn flakes away *

[TragoudistrosMPH]

Wow, organisms like this make me excited to learn what alien life will look like.

Surely unrecognizable in many cases!

[tripwire]

The sound effects this episode are golden!

[hokostudios]

The sound and music team definitely killed it this episode! Those sounds when the worms slurped something up were so funky!

Pretty fun getting another visit of flatworms. What strange little critters they are!

[theusher]

I can't begin to imagine the knowledge we'll gain from studying these.

[khangtrantan]

Dancing acoel 0:18

Edit:
- Acoel: "NUH UH-"

[jakubsolar]

I remember your first flatworm video, also dedicated how from two chunks, each can regrow new body rest. I did also heard about some photosynthetic flatworms, just green and freshwater. Even with that, it's cool to introduce to audience new species I never heard before for sure!

[captainjurgh]

Despite having the title of immortality, they look like orange flavored gumdrops smooshed in summer and i adore them

[osmosisjones]

The activity of a reef looks more like a city then a rain forest