Leucochloridium paradoxum - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
  • pastermil@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    7·
    18 days ago

    After the bird eat them, they live in the bird’s ass, propagating by laying eggs in the bird’s poop, and the cycle begin anew.

    This is probably the most sophisticated parasite I’ve ever known.

      • decadentrebel@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
        3·
        15 days ago

        I think you’re just focusing on the pooping cycle. The part where the parasite possesses the snail and creates this elaborate display with the eyes to draw its real intended host/target is what’s fascinating.

        • frankenswine@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          15 days ago

          i don’t think so (: toxoplasma IIRC alters a host’s behavior in favor of cats, so that it can infect those - since cats are the only ones it can reproduce in. not as colorful and funky as the exapmle here, but similarly clever/complex