Snail Zombies | National Geographic

snails zombies from your backyard

snails zombies from your backyard the body of this amber snail has been

the body of this amber snail has been

the body of this amber snail has been invaded by Luke okhla Rhydian worms

invaded by Luke okhla Rhydian worms

invaded by Luke okhla Rhydian worms turning it into a pulsating snail zombie

this is the bizarre result of the

this is the bizarre result of the microscopic worms journey from snail to

microscopic worms journey from snail to

microscopic worms journey from snail to bird and back again after incubating in

bird and back again after incubating in

bird and back again after incubating in the snail huge numbers of the parasites

the snail huge numbers of the parasites

the snail huge numbers of the parasites larvae invade the snails eye stalks the

larvae invade the snails eye stalks the

larvae invade the snails eye stalks the larvae become a vividly colored and puff

larvae become a vividly colored and puff

larvae become a vividly colored and puff up the usually slender eye stalks to

up the usually slender eye stalks to

up the usually slender eye stalks to resemble pulsating caterpillars since

resemble pulsating caterpillars since

resemble pulsating caterpillars since birds like this pied flycatcher can’t

birds like this pied flycatcher can’t

birds like this pied flycatcher can’t resist these lures they pick at them and

resist these lures they pick at them and

resist these lures they pick at them and end up ingesting the parasite at the

end up ingesting the parasite at the

end up ingesting the parasite at the same time after all bird guts are these

same time after all bird guts are these

same time after all bird guts are these worms ideal haven for reproduction

worms ideal haven for reproduction

worms ideal haven for reproduction eventually the bird eliminates the new

eventually the bird eliminates the new

eventually the bird eliminates the new worm eggs through defecation and the

worm eggs through defecation and the

worm eggs through defecation and the snail laps up this poopy egg infested

snail laps up this poopy egg infested

snail laps up this poopy egg infested snack YUM

snack YUM

snack YUM and so the cycle continues but wait

and so the cycle continues but wait

and so the cycle continues but wait there are not one but two fascinating

there are not one but two fascinating

there are not one but two fascinating twists to this story first the snails

twists to this story first the snails

twists to this story first the snails mind is seemingly controlled by the

mind is seemingly controlled by the

mind is seemingly controlled by the words the infected snail actually crawls

words the infected snail actually crawls

words the infected snail actually crawls into plain view of birds as the Sun

into plain view of birds as the Sun

into plain view of birds as the Sun rises something the snails never do on

rises something the snails never do on

rises something the snails never do on their own

their own

their own [Music]

[Music]

[Music] it’s as if the worms reprogram the

it’s as if the worms reprogram the

it’s as if the worms reprogram the snails brain for their own nefarious

snails brain for their own nefarious

snails brain for their own nefarious purpose final fact some snails that have

purpose final fact some snails that have

purpose final fact some snails that have been infected actually live longer than

been infected actually live longer than

been infected actually live longer than those that haven’t I mean how’s that for

those that haven’t I mean how’s that for

those that haven’t I mean how’s that for irony