[Animals] Green-banded broodsac: The brain-hijacking parasite that creates disco zombie snails

[FRIDAY THE 13]

Name: Green-banded broodsac (Leucochloridium paradoxum)

Where it lives: Europe, North America and Japan

What it eats: Waste in the digestive tracts of birds, before it is excreted

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Why it's awesome: This parasitic flatworm is best known for creating disco zombies: It takes over the bodies of amber snails (Succinea) by clambering into their eyestalks and forcing them to dance to attract birds' attention. 

A snail first comes into contact with L. paradoxum via bird droppings, which contain the eggs of the green-banded broodsac. Upon hatching, the larvae move to the tentacles of the snail and create a sac. As this matures, it grows and replaces the eyestalk of the snail, effectively blinding it and preventing it from drawing the tentacle back into its body. 

Related: Horrifying photo captures moment parasitic fungus bursts from huge spider's body

It also becomes colorful and pulsates at a rate of 60 to 80 contractions per minute, creating a disco-like vibe

 

https://www.livescience.com/animals/snails/green-banded-broodsac-the-brain-hijacking-parasite-that-creates-disco-zombie-snails