Absurd Creature of the Week: The Parasitic Worm That Turns Snails Into Disco Zombies

This is Leucochloridium, a parasitic worm that invades a snail's eyestalks, where it pulsates to imitate a caterpillar. The worm then mind-controls its host out into the open for hungry birds to pluck its eyes out. In the bird’s guts the worm breeds, releasing its eggs in the bird’s feces, which are happily eaten up by another snail to complete the whole bizarre life cycle.

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from WIRED » Science http://feeds.wired.com/c/35185/f/661470/s/3ea0724e/sc/14/l/0L0Swired0N0C20A140C0A90Cabsurd0Ecreature0Eof0Ethe0Eweek0Edisco0Eworm0C/story01.htm

via Science News