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罕见物种叶羊海蛞蝓现身三亚

版面图及全文如下

人民日报

海南三亚蜈支洲岛推进生态修复

罕见物种叶羊海蛞蝓现身海域

2026年6月3日《人民日报》第14版版面图

夜潜中，摄影师在海南三亚蜈支洲岛海域用微距镜头捕捉到了一个几毫米长的身影——白色头部、黑色眼睛，看起来像一只微缩版的卡通小绵羊。这就是叶羊海蛞蝓，属于软体动物，成体体长不足1厘米。

叶羊是一类生活在海藻上的蛞蝓。本次拍摄到的叶羊，是柱海蛞蝓属的海蛞蝓，隶属于软体动物门腹足纲囊舌总目，俗称绵羊海蛞蝓。

三亚日报

叶羊对生活环境的要求很高，需要水质清澈、藻类生态健康、珊瑚礁系统稳定，这使得叶羊成为衡量海洋生态质量的重要指示生物。

早年间，受海水升温与渔业捕捞等因素叠加影响，这片海域珊瑚礁退化严重。从2010年左右开始，蜈支洲岛与海南大学合作启动我国首个热带海洋牧场项目，投放人工鱼礁和沉船，为海洋生物提供栖息和繁殖场所；2016年起，与中国科学院南海海洋生物实验站合作进行珊瑚移植，建立苗圃，已修复珊瑚6.8万株，修复面积约6.1万平方米。

生态修复扎实推进的同时，蜈支洲岛亦在探索保护、开发并行的长效机制。此次叶羊的出现，说明这片曾经退化的海域正在逐步恢复生机，也成为近年来海南海洋生态环境持续向好、生物多样性稳步提升的佐证。

Rare leaf sheep sea slug photographed

in Hainan for the first time

An ecological photographer recently captured the first verified clear images of a rare leaf sheep sea slug in the waters around Hainan province.

A leaf sheep sea slug is spotted for the first time at Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan province. [Photo by Gong Qiya/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Music Lin, the photographer, documented the tiny species while diving near Wuzhizhou Island in Sanya during the 2026 Hainan International Diving Festival's ocean content co-creation program, which took place in May.

Wuzhizhou Island is home to China's first tropical marine ranch. Marine experts said the species' presence indicates a healthy, stable ecosystem with rich biodiversity.

A leaf sheep sea slug is spotted for the first time at Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan province. [Photo by Gong Qiya/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The leaf sheep sea slug's beady eyes and flat face make it look like an adorable cartoon sheep. An adult of the species measures less than 1 centimeter and is known for its ability to photosynthesize by incorporating chloroplasts from algae it consumes, a trait called kleptoplasty.

A leaf sheep sea slug is spotted for the first time at Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan province. [Photo by Music Lin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The festival's ocean content co-creation program brought together underwater photographers, divers, models, and young diving fans to produce nearly 100 artistic and ecologically focused image sets.

A leaf sheep sea slug is spotted for the first time at Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan province. [Photo by Kim Eun-Jong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Lin said the island offered ideal conditions for patient observation. "There's a wide variety of coral," she said, "and while diving, you can see many small schools of fish. It's particularly fascinating. I enjoy quietly observing marine life. Real images are the most moving, and they best help people fall in love with the ocean and protect it."

来源：人民日报、中国日报