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Leaf sheep named Guardian Invertebrate of the Year 2026

8/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The UK Guardian named the leaf sheep (Costasiella kuroshimae) Invertebrate of the Year 2026.
Hundreds of thousands of Guardian readers worldwide voted for the leaf sheep in the global ballot.
The leaf sheep is a neon-green slug that harvests photosynthetic material from algae.
Bombus dahlbomii placed second in the competition.
The horseshoe crab, a pre-dinosaur arthropod with blue blood, finished third.

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Story summary

The UK Guardian named the leaf sheep (Costasiella kuroshimae) Invertebrate of the Year 2026.
Hundreds of thousands of Guardian readers worldwide voted for the leaf sheep in the global ballot.
The leaf sheep is a neon-green slug that harvests photosynthetic material from algae.
Bombus dahlbomii placed second in the competition.
The horseshoe crab, a pre-dinosaur arthropod with blue blood, finished third.