Zombie Fungus Turns Tarantula Into a Living Nightmare

Tarantulas are already some of the creepiest spiders out there, but the nightmare intensifies when they become infected by a zombie fungus. A haunting video circulating online shows a tarantula afflicted by Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as cordyceps. This fungus preys on insects such as ants and spiders. The footage, shared by wildlife researcher chris Ketola from the Peruvian Amazon, depicts the tarantula lying motionless with the fungus growing from its body.

In the video, Ketola provides a close-up view of the infected tarantula and explains how the cordyceps fungus takes over the spider's nervous system, ultimately leading to its death. Ketola notes that this particular instance involves a rare species of cordyceps. "It is a horrific yet incredible find," he comments.

In his caption, Ketola elaborates on the fungus, writing, “Cordyceps is a genus of fungi that mainly targets invertebrates, gradually consuming their bodies while controlling their nervous systems. The so-called ‘zombie fungus’ has gained popularity due to the video game and tv show The Last Of Us. This species of Cordyceps, which infects tarantulas, is quite rare; this is only the third time I’ve observed a tarantula infected by it!”

The video has garnered significant attention, amassing over 20 million views on Instagram. Reactions from viewers range from horror to fascination. One user remarked, “Yeah OK, PATIENT 0 PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE CORDYCEPS,” while another commented, “Please back away from the Cordyceps. This timeline is already too much for me.” Another user expressed intrigue, noting, “That’s fascinating. Cordyceps fungi have such a unique way of interacting with tarantulas. It’s intriguing how nature works in such complex ways.”

Some users took the opportunity to discuss why this zombie fungus won’t infect humans. Despite its portrayal in The Last Of Us, which imagines a scenario where these parasites might jump from insects to humans, studies suggest that such a leap is highly unlikely.
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Balasahana Suresh

01/09/2024 12:33 PM