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Top Ten Weird Plant Names

Earth Rangers

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April 25, 2011

Ever heard of a Sneezewort, or a Monkey Puzzle Tree? We’ve got a whole list of wonky plants and the inside scoop on where they got their funny names!

#1 Sneezewort Yarrow (Achillea ptarmica)

Also known as: Sneezeweed

I’m named this because… I was once used as a sneezing powder. Sneezeweed was dried up and used to get people to sneeze to clear out their sinuses!

Fun fact: This plant doesn’t just make people sneeze; it can also be eaten in salads or used as an insect repellent.

http://www.eol.org/pages/467230

#2 Hooded Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)

Also known as: Marsh Skullcap

I’m named this because… my flowers look like caps

Fun fact: The Hooded Skullcap is part of the mint family but it doesn’t taste like mint! One of its relatives is also famous, the plant, called mad-dog weed, was used in medieval times as a remedy for rabid-dog bites.

http://www.ontariowildflower.com/lakeedge.htm#skullcapmarsh
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/skullcap-000273.htm

#3 Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)

Also known as: Chilean Pine

I’m named this because… an Englishman in the early 1800s said that the tree would be a puzzle for a monkey to climb, even though there are no monkeys where this tree grows!

Fun fact: These trees can live for many years; the oldest is over 800 years old! These trees can also grow as big as 150 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 7 feet.

http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/pow/monkey_puzzle_tree.htm

#4 Devil’s Walkingstick (Aralia spinosa)

Also known as: Angelica-Tree, Prickly Elder, Hercules Club

Fun fact: The stems of the shrub have long “prickles” and it is not uncommon to see them grow 15 cm long!

http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Aralia%20spinosa.pdf

#5 Turkey Corn (Dicentra eximia)

Turkey Corn plant — Turkey Corn. Photo Credit: Kurt Stuber

Also known as: Fringed Bleeding Heart

Fun fact: This is the most heat tolerant plant in the Dicentra family. It will continue to grow throughout the summer, as long as the soil does not dry out.

http://www.eol.org/pages/594616

#6 Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos flavidus)

Tall Kangaroo Paw plant — Tall Kangaroo Paw

I’m named this because… clusters of my flowers look like a paw.

Fun fact: In the wild Kangaroo Paws can only be found in South Western Australia.

http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/wa.emblem.html
http://anpsa.org.au/a-flav.html

# 7 Butter and Eggs (Linaria vulgaris)

Also known as: Yellow Toadflax, Brideweed

I’m named this because… my flower looks like an egg yolk

Fun fact: According to myth, Butter and Eggs was originally a yellow dragon that transformed, sadly it then choked on a fried egg.

http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/weedsbc/weed_desc/yel_toad.html
http://chestofbooks.com/flora-plants/flowers/Wild-Illinois/Butter-And-Eggs-Wild-Snapdragon-Toadflax.html

# 8 Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)

Hen and Chicks plant — Hen and Chicks. Photo Credit: Kurt Stuber

Also known as: House Leeks

I’m named this because… I form in a large cluster (the hen) surrounded by smaller patches (the chicks)

Fun Fact: Hen and Chicks were originally planted on roofs as protection against lightning because they are linked to Thor and Zeus, the two mythical gods of lightning.

http://www.eol.org/pages/484887

#9 Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

Also known as: Fat Hen, White Goosefoot, Wild Spinach

I’m named this because… the word Lambsquarters comes from lammas quarter which is a harvest festival that was held on August 1st in 9th century England where this plant was eaten. The nickname goosefoot comes from the leaves that look like a goose’s foot.

Fun fact: This plant can produce 75,000 seeds and can grow in many soil types. Lambsquarters is also very healthy for you; it contains more vitamins and essential minerals than many vegetables, especially Lettuce, Spinach and Cabbage

http://communitygarden.org/rebeltomato/pdf/Science_Pages/lambsquarters_science_page.pdf

# 10 Cheeseweed Mallow (Malva parviflora)

Cheeseweed Forest Photo Credit: Kim Starr

Also known as: Little Mallow

I’m named this because… the shape of my fruit looks like mini cheese rounds but they do not taste like cheese!

Fun fact: Stay away from this plant if you’re a chicken, poultry that eat this plant’s seeds or leaves may produce lower quality eggs.

John Kallas, Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate. Gibbs Smith(publisher), Utah: 2010,Page 103 http://bit.ly/ezTEiJ

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Top Ten Strangest Animal Survival Strategies!

Earth Rangers

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April 14, 2011

84

Top Ten Strangest Animal Survival Strategies!

Ever wonder how small creatures like beetles and ants can stand up to bigger species? How about frogs and fish? Well take a look at this list of the top ten strangest animal survival strategies.

#1 Porcupinefish (from the family Diodontidae)

Predators will have to think twice before messing with this big spiky fish. When the Porcupine or Pufferfish is feeling threatened, it can inflate its body using air and water, extending its sharp points out up to 5 cm (2’’).

http://www.seaworld.org

#2 Hairy Frog (Trichobatrachus robustus)

Watch out this animal uses a wolverine style attack! They will poke sharp bones through the skin on their toes and use their spiky feet to keep predators away.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080623125003.htm

#3 Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

The platypus is high-tech using electro-reception to find its prey. It swims with its head swinging side-to-side in order to sense any changes in the electric field to see where its food is hiding.
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/webpages/bhan-53573t?open#Distributionandhabit

#4 Carpenter Ant (Camponotus saundersi)

When the worker ant is under attack and knows it’s going to lose, it explodes! It sucks in the walls of its abdomen so fast and with so much force that the walls burst open spilling out toxins.

Hölldobler, Bert and Edward O. Wilson. The Ants: Volume 2; Volume 514. Harvard University Press, 1990: 243. Available online at Google books: http://bit.ly/iaNh6v

#5 Wood Frog (Rana Sylvatica)

Meet the incredible self-freezing frog! In winter 35-45% of the frog’s body may freeze and turn to ice. The Wood frog pulls off this trick by storing glucose in its liver, which gets released while its ‘playing dead’. The glucose acts as antifreeze, working to keep this little guy alive while staying still. As the temperature drops the Wood frog will stop moving and breathing, its blood stops flowing and even its heart stops! Once things warm up a bit the frog comes back to life (so-to-speak) and returns to normal.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

#6 Bombardier Beetle (Stenaptinus insignis)

This beetle knows just how to keep enemies away hot liquid eek! The beetle collects chemicals in a special chamber then when it’s under attack it heats this liquid up and sprays it from the end of its abdomen.

http://www.pnas.org/content/96/17/9705.full

#7 Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus)

electric el — Electric eel. Photo Credit: Steven G Johnson

The electric eel uses 2 types of electricity; the first kind is for electro location (figuring out what’s in the environment) the other is for keeping predators away. For electro location the eel uses a low voltage discharge (about 10 V and reaching about 25 Hz) but the eel soups-up its discharge to high voltage (about 500 V and reaching several hundred Hz) to keep predators away.

http://www.eol.org/pages/206595

#8 Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix)

This fish loves water fights, which can come in handy when it’s looking for a tasty insect to snack on. The Archerfish shoots down insects by spitting beads of water at them! This fish can spit water with such force that it can knock a bug off of a plant that’s up to 150 cm away.

http://www.eol.org/pages/339020

#9 African Termite (Marcrotermes bellicosus)

african termite mound — African Termite Mound

These termites build amazing homes that help them survive by keeping the temperature inside perfect, even if the world outside is too hot or cold. These mounds are so well designed that we have started to take a closer look at them to try and help us build better homes that don’t need as much energy to keep them the right temperature. Termite mounds can reach up to 9 meters high, are water resistant and use ventilation ducts too keep them at a constant 30 degrees Celsius.

http://www.biology-resources.com/termite-01.html

#10 Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii)

Unlike most turtles this endangered species has a soft shell that is flexible. Its shell is made up of bones under its skin that gives it a protective plate. This turtle’s flat body helps it hide which is key for it to find food because this guy’s an ambush feeder! This turtle will lay in wait then jump into action with fast movements of its neck and head to grab some of the speediest and most agile prey, like a tasty fish.

http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_011_cantorii_v1_2008.pdf

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

The Leaf Beetle has tiny hairs on its feet that allow it to have amazing climbing abilities

Earth Rangers

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April 8, 2011

20

The Leaf Beetle has tiny hairs on its feet that allow it to have amazing climbing abilities

Some insects, lizards and spiders are amazing climbers, what gives them this super power? Well their incredible feet sure do help!

The tiny hairs (called setae) on the leaf beetle’s feet come in three different shapes; pointed, flat and disk-like each arranged in patterns across the feet. Researchers at the University of Cambridge, England believe that it is this combination of hairs and the different amount of force that is needed to peel them off of things that lets the beetle stick so well. It is hoped that by looking more closely at how these different hairs are used we can develop better nature inspired adhesives or sticky things. It may still be awhile before you can buy beetle feet tape from the store but you can go check out other amazing nature inspired designs like Velcro.

http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=100100&CultureCode=en

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Top Ten Ugliest Animal Babies

Earth Rangers

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April 7, 2011

712

It is pretty amazing how adults and their babies can look so different from each other. Take a look at this list of top ten ugliest (but adorable) animal babies.

#1 Robin (Turdus migratorius)

robin chick — Robin Chick. Photo Credit: galawebdesign

Baby name: Chick

The numbers: Baby robins weigh about 5.5 g.

Fun fact: Chicks are fed by both parents and eat 35-40 meals a day!

Growing up: Baby robins leave the nest when they are 13 days old and become fully independent at 4 weeks.

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=25

#2 Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Baby name: Owlet

The numbers: Barn owls lay 2-18 eggs.

Fun fact: The father brings food for the whole family but only the mother feeds the babies.

Growing up: Owlets have their first flight 50-70 days after hatching but they will return to the nest. They will stay close to home until they are 7 to 8 weeks old.

http://www.eol.org/pages/914939

#3 Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

baby giant panda — Giant panda cubs. Photo Credit: Milgrammer Lucy Reynell Zurich, Switzerland

Baby name: Cub

The numbers: Giant panda cubs weigh 85 to 140 grams.

Fun fact: Mothers enjoy playing with their young. They have even been known to wakeup a sleeping infant so that they can play together.

Growing up: Cubs are born with their eyes closed, opening them after 3 weeks. By the time they are 3-4 months old cubs are able to move on their own but they stay with their mom for up to 18 months.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328070

#4 Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

aardvark mom and baby — Aardvark cub with mom. Photo Credit Scotto Bear

Baby name: Cub

The numbers: A newborn weighs between 1.8 and 2 kg.

Fun fact: Normally only one aardvark is born at a time, but occasionally a mom will have twins.

Growing up: Baby aardvarks stay in the burrow for several weeks before heading out with mom for a nighttime food run. At 6 months the aardvark will dig its own burrow. Even though they have moved out the young cub will still stay close to mom for a few more years until they are ready to find a mate.

http://www.eol.org/pages/327830

#5 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

baby turkey vulture — Turkey vulture chick

Baby name: Chick

Fun fact: Turkey vultures will stake out a nesting site in a sheltered area like a hollow log or old building and they will use little or no nest for laying their eggs.

Growing up: The eggs hatch after 30-40 days and the young become independent after 80-90 days.

http://www.eol.org/pages/1049010

#6 Stump-Tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides)

baby stump tailed macaque — Stump-tailed macaque infant

Baby name: Infant

The numbers: Females have babies every 2 years.

Fun fact: Baby Stump-tailed macaques live in groups with moms helping to care for each other’s young. Special attention is given to the infants of high-ranking moms. Young macaques also inherit this rank from their mothers, taking up their position in the group.

Growing up: Infants are weaned after 9 months and become independent at 1.5 years

http://www.eol.org/pages/323946

#7 Tapir (Perissodactyla tapiridae)

baby tapir — Tapir calf. Photo Credit: Frank Wouters

Baby name: Calf

Fun fact: Tapirs are born with striped markings but they disappear by the time they are 6 months old.

Growing up: Young tapirs are weaned after 10-12 months.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tapiridae.html

#8 Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

Baby Warthog — Warthog piglet. Flickr credit: Mediatejack, jacky w

Baby name: Piglet

The numbers: There are usually 1-7 piglets in a litter.

Fun fact: Newborn warthogs cannot keep themselves warm instead they rely on mom and a comfy burrow to keep their body temperature just right.

Growing up: Piglets stay in the den for 6-7 weeks before heading out with mom.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328332

#9 Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

Baby name: Calf

The numbers: Baby walruses are 113 cm long and weigh around 63 kilograms.

Fun fact: Dads don’t stick around instead groups of mothers raise their young together. The calf (baby) and cow (mom) form a very strong bond.

Growing up: A calf is weaned after 2 years and is able to find a mate of its own after 5-7 years.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328627

#10 Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

baby flamingo — Flamingo Chick. Photo Credit: Steve, Washington DC

Baby name: Chick

The numbers: When they hatch flamingo babies weigh 85-102 grams.

Fun fact: Mating flamingos build their nests out of mud. The mound is twelve inches high and circular with a lower centre for the egg.

Growing up: The eggs hatch after 28-32 days and the chicks are ready to fly about 65-90 days later.

http://www.eol.org/pages/913221

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Coastal mangrove forests store more carbon than almost any other forest on Earth

Earth Rangers

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April 6, 2011

9

Coastal mangrove forests store more carbon than almost any other forest on Earth

A team at the U.S. forest services and some university scientists looked at 25 mangroves and found that these coastal forests are super important holders of carbon. Carbon emissions play a big part in global warming, by protecting trees that store it up we can help keep the planet cool!

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110403_mangroves.shtml

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Some butterflies defend their territory through flying contests

Earth Rangers

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April 1, 2011

44

Some butterflies defend their territory through flying contests

Some species of male butterfly find a female by staking out a nice sunny spot to wait for Miss right to fly by. These sunny spots become the butterfly’s territory and they will defend it against intruders with a flying duel!!!

What’s a Flying Duel?

To defend their territory a male butterfly will have a flight contest with the intruding male. The butterflies will circle each other in flight until one eventually flies away from the area, leaving the winner to take up their spot in the sun. These battles can last up to 90 minutes, according to one study that looked at the speckled wood butterfly. So be careful where you step next time you are out in a sunny garden, you might find yourself in a butterfly’s territory and be forced to duel!

http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=99536&CultureCode=en

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Top Ten Most Amazing Migrations

Earth Rangers

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March 30, 2011

62

As the weather starts to get colder, you may notice that your favourite animals are missing. While some may be hibernating, many being a trip to warmer climates. This is a list of ten amazing migrations.

#1 Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest migration of any animal.

How far I travel: 71,000 kilometres a year, this adds up to 2.4 million kilometres over my 30 year lifespan.

Where I go: I fly from Greenland and the Arctic to Antarctica; from one end of the world to the other!

www.arctictern.info

#2 Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest migration of any mammal.

How far I travel: One female humpback whale travelled more than 9,800 kilometres.

Where I go: I move from the tropics and head north to my feeding grounds. Not all of us travel together; pregnant whales and those who had calves in the previous year go north first.

www.eol.org/pages/328575
www.nature.com/news/2010/101012/full/news.2010.532.html

#3 Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus Griseus)

sooty shearwater bird flight — Sooty Shearwaters. Photo Credit: Mike Baird

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the second longest migration.

How far I travel: 65,000 kilometres

Where I go: I travel from my breeding grounds in New Zealand and Chile north to feeding grounds covering around 724 to 1096 kilometres a day.

www.terranature.org/sootyshearwatermigration.htm

#4 Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

monarch butterfly flower — Monarch butterfly

Why I’m a chart topper: My migration cycle is longer than my life span so no one butterfly makes the entire round trip.

How far I travel: 3,100 kilometres

Where I go: I arrive in Canada in June, then in September (two to three generations later) I head south to Mexico.

www.monarchwatch.org
www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/Monarch_e.php

#5 Dragonflies mainly the Globe skimmers (Pantala flavescens)

dragonfly globe skimmer — Globe skimmer dragonfly. Photo Credit: J.M. Garg

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest known insect migration.

How far I travel: 14,000 – 18,000 kilometres

Where I go: I head out from India to the Maldives, Seychelles, Mozambique and Uganda, using the wind to help me along. I go through 4 generations for the complete migration cycle. Just like the monarch no one dragonfly completes the migration on their own.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8149000/8149714.stm

#6 Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Why I’m a chart topper: I swim upstream to spawn where I was born.

How far I travel: 3,000 kilometres

Where I go: After hatching I spend time in fresh water from three months to a year. I migrate to the Pacific Ocean, then head back home to the river I was born in to spawn.

www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/species-especes/salmon-saumon/facts-infos/chinook-quinnat-eng.htm

#7 Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest migration of all of the penguins.

How far I travel: 17,600 kilometres

Where I go: I follow the sun from the breeding colonies to winter feeding grounds.

antarcticsun.usap.gov/science/contenthandler.cfm?id=2230

#8 Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Why I’m a chart topper: We fly non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean. The migration is so tough that some young don’t even migrate north until their second year.

How far I travel: 3,000 kilometres

Where I go: In mid-May I take off from South America heading north towards my breeding grounds in the sub-arctic of Canada and Alaska. In July I head back south again.

www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=74

# 9 Wildebeest or Gnu (Connochaetes)

wildebeest migration herd — wildebeest migration

Why I’m a chart topper: I am continually on the move in search of grass and water, following the cycles of rainfall to help guide me. Migrating can be very dangerous with lots of predators, that’s why the young travel on the inside of the herd, to help protect them.

How far I travel: The Serengeti population of wildebeest is a huge nomadic group that migrates 1,600 kilometres each year.

Where I go: Beginning in January and February we move from the Serengeti plains west towards Lake Victoria.

www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/wildebeest
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Connochaetes_taurinus.html

#10 Red Crab of Christmas Island (Gecarcoidea natalis)

Why I’m a chart topper: Our trip is synchronized so all of us move across the island together. There are so many of us that sometimes sections of roads have to be closed to allow us to get through.

How far I travel: 5 kilometres, traveling up to 12 hours over 5 days.

Where I go: At the beginning of the wet season (October/November) I head out from the forest to the coast to breed. The males arrive at the sea first followed by the females who soon outnumber them. As tiny babies (only 5 mm across) we travel back from the sea to the forest, a trip that takes about nine days.

www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/visitor-activities/migration.html

If you think animals are amazing, the Earth Rangers Podcast is for you!

Join Earth Ranger Emma as she travels the world on a quest to solve some of nature’s greatest mysteries! With top ten countdowns, animal guessing games and epic animal showdowns, this is a journey you won’t want to miss!

Fairy-Wrens seem nice by taking care of other birds’ chicks but they have ulterior motives

Earth Rangers

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March 25, 2011

19

Fairy-Wrens seem nice by taking care of other birds’ chicks but they have ulterior motives

Fairy-wrens aren’t just pretty; they are also seen as one of the kindest and most giving members of the animal kingdom. Fairy-wrens got this honored title because they will help care for other bird’s young. These helpful acts have lead people to believe that the fairy-wren loves to care for others. New research has shown that these birds may actually be helping care for their friends and neighbors’ babies not just to be the nice guy on the block. By helping raise other fairy-wrens’ young they improve their chances of inheriting the breeding territory, giving them a better chance of raising their own young in the future.

http://www.monash.edu.au/news/show/fairy-wrens-the-accountants-of-the-animal-kingdom

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Monarchs and Mimics

Earth Rangers

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March 9, 2011

23

Can you tell which one of these two butterflies is a Monarch (Danaaus plexippus) and which one is a Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)? This is a tricky question because one of these butterflies is a mimic!

monach butterfly — Photo credit: Noah Cole

viceroy butterfly — Photo credit: Noah Cole

Mimics are creatures that copy another species, they often take on disguises as a way to hide from predators. Monarch butterflies are poisonous to many animals because of the milkweed plant that they eat, many scientists believe this is why the Viceroy copies their toxic friend’s look. By mimicking (or looking like) the Monarch the Viceroy is sending a warning sign to animals, like a hungry bird, saying ‘hey don’t eat me I may be poisonous’. With all of this confusion how do you tell these butterflies apart? If you look closely, at the photos, you will see that the Viceroy butterfly has a black horizontal bar on its hind wings while the Monarch butterfly doesn’t. (If you are still stumped the first photo is of the Monarch the second is the Viceroy). You can also tell these lookalikes apart by their flying styles; while the Viceroy holds their wings flat the Monarch keeps their wings in a V shape above their body.

Try showing these images to your friends and family and see if they can tell the difference between a Monarch and a Viceroy.

http://www.eol.org/pages/159832

http://www.eol.org/pages/2682739

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Zombie Ant Attack!

Earth Rangers

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March 7, 2011

59

The Atlantic rainforests of Brazil are a hotspot for biodiversity but they are also one of the most threatened ecosystems. 92% of this rainforests original coverage has already been lost. One of the reasons it is so important to protect this rainforest is the amazing species that call this place home, like a zombifying ant fungus!

Researchers have recently discovered a group of four kinds of fungus that can take over an ant’s body, controlling their behavior and turning them into zombies… spooky. After this fungus takes control of an unsuspecting ant it scopes out a sweet spot to spread its spores killing the poor zombie in the process.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/plos-fns030111.php

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.