This Zombie snail will give you nightmares!
I always thought zombies were only seen in movies, but clearly my nightmares are turning into a reality if this frightening zombie snail is anything to go by.
I’m no snail expert, but apparently there’s a parasitic flatworm called Leucochloridium paradoxum (LP) that invades the bodies of land snails and makes them go nuts. So pretty much the plot for every zombie movie ever made! The worm turns the snail into a different colour whilst sending it totally bonkers. However, It’s not just doing it for shits and giggles, as the worm’s aim is to attract the attention of birds so that they can swoop in and eat the snail, so that the worm can reproduce in the birds intestines. Is that not the most ingenious yet terrifying thing you’ve ever heard?! Take a look:
This zombie snail. A parasitic worm Leucochloridium has taken over its motor functions and eye stalks, making them into caterpillar mimics so birds will eat them. The worm can then reproduce in the bird's GI tract, eventually transmitting via its faeces 🤯 https://t.co/mP8IrGh21L pic.twitter.com/C2xc83oU54
— Mike Inouye (@minouye271) August 12, 2019
The worm takes over the snail’s eye stalks and make it move around like a caterpillar so that the birds are like “yum, I’ll eat you”, then it’s evil plan is complete. Proper nuts right?! Turns out it ain’t always bad news for the snail either, as sometimes they even manage to survive such an ordeal, my growing their eyes back after the birds have feasted on them. Jesus, glad I’m not a snail!
