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Unavowed stuck in forest12/15/2023 ![]() ![]() These sites provide palaeontologists with a wealth of fossils and information on prehistoric wildlife, with famous examples including the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, where numerous Mastodon, dire wolf and giant sloth bones have been unearthed, and the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in Utah, famed for its high concentration of Allosaurus fossils. Broadly speaking, these are natural locations such as swamps or tar pits that carnivorous animals are lured to by the prospect of an easy meal before becoming trapped and die. On the subject of fossils, let’s talk about predator traps. And if that weren’t terrifying enough, fossil evidence indicates Cordyceps has been preying on insects for millions of years. Though several ant species have found a way to sense the fungus and isolate infected colony members, Cordyceps has been known to wipe out entire colonies. The ant will then attach itself to a tree branch or leaf before the fungus erupts from the now dead host’s head, spreading its spores on to more unfortunate victims. ![]() Once infected, the fungus will take control of the host’s mind, directing them upwards. Found in the jungles of Southeast Asia and Brazil, this fungus is most famous for targeting ants. Though there are several variants, the most famous is Ophiocordyceps, or the so-called “Zombie fungus”. In talking about this article with the Science editors, one of the first possible examples that came up was Cordyceps, a particularly nasty parasitic fungus that preys on insects, so let’s start there. In the spirit of the Halloween season, let’s take a look at some of the more colourful ways the natural world can kill off its unfortunate denizens. Isn’t Mother Nature great? Her resplendent beauty surpasses all human endeavour, yet ever inspires the mind. ![]()
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