The winner of the Guardian's Invertebrate of the year 2026 revealed

The Guardian has announced the winner of the Invertebrate of the Year 2026 competition. The leaf sheep, known scientifically as Costasiella kuroshimae, triumphed in a global ballot. This neon green solar-powered slug, which lives underwater and is the size of a grain of rice, beat a competitive shortlist. Naturalist Chris Packham highlighted the importance of invertebrates, which comprise approximately 97% of all animal species, noting that life as we know it hinges on these creatures.