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Zombie Ant Attack!

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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!

ant macro preening

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

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59 COMMENTS

  1. I saw this video, a couple of times, about this fungus that took over an ant’s brain and made it climb to the top of a twig, so that the fungus could grow out of it’s body and head — it was very wierd.

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