Re: Dinosaur parasites

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 13:36:02 -0700 (PDT), Robert J. Schenck wrote
>
> There is, for example, a species of parasite that
> infects ants, and "takes over" their behaviour. 
> It makes them crawl to the top of grass blades
> and cling on with their pinchers, to make them
> more likely to get eaten by grazzing cattle (the
> next step in the parasite life cycle).

There's a similar parasite that creates 'suicide snails'. It lives inside one 
of their antennae, and causes snails to find a nice conspicuous perch from 
which the pulsing white worm inside an antenna can attract a passing bird. 
Once inside the bird it lays eggs, which get passed out the other end and 
ultimately eaten by another snail.

Aint nature grand?

--
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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://heretichides.soffiles.com
Melbourne, Australia        http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
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