Snail-Controlling Parasite Turns Snails Into Zombies
Leucochloridium paradoxum: A Parasitic Flatworm That Alters Snail Behavior
Where Leucochloridium paradoxum Lives
Leucochloridium paradoxum is a parasitic flatworm that makes its home in the rectum of birds, feeding on their digested waste. As an endoparasite, it lives within its host, in this case, birds.
The Zombie-Making Parasite
Leucochloridium paradoxum has an unusual ability: it can turn snails into zombies. The parasite invades the eyestalks of its snail hosts, causing them to pulsate and become more visible to birds, its ultimate target. This pulsation attracts birds, which then eat the infected snails, allowing the parasite to complete its life cycle within the bird's digestive system.
The Discovery of Zombie Snails
The discovery of zombie snails infected with Leucochloridium paradoxum highlights the fascinating and sometimes gruesome world of parasitism. This parasite's ability to manipulate its host's behavior serves as a reminder of the complex and often hidden interactions that occur in nature.
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