Biologist Chris Ketola captured footage of a tarantula completely taken over by a fungus of the genus Cordyceps which inspired the game and series “The Last Of Us”, in the Peruvian Amazon.
The video posted on the Canadian’s official Instagram profile went viral in recent days. In it, the member of the international organization Fauna Forever described the scene as incredible and horrific at the same time.
“It’s a truly horrific thing, but also incredible,” he said. “This tarantula was infected by the fungus, which took over its nervous system, forcing it to come to this place. When it died, the fungus emerged from its body, releasing its spores,” he described, comparing the spider to the characters in “The Last Of Us”.
Ketola also explains that this is a very rare species among the more than 750 that make up the Cordyceps genus. Each species targets a specific insect and may not pose any danger to other animals, for example.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the cycle of this fungus begins with the dispersal of spores, which infect the host when they come into contact with it. Then, the Cordyceps spread throughout the victim’s body, replacing its internal tissues and feeding on its nutrients. When the insect is paralyzed, the fungus emerges from inside the host’s body ready to release more spores that can infect another insect.
The fruiting bodies, known as mushrooms and corresponding to the bottom body that emerges from the host, are also used as food and are often added to the preparation of pasta and soups.
See below the video recorded by Chris Ketola:
This content was originally published in Video shows fungus that inspired “The Last of Us” colonizing tarantula; see on CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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