A new species of zombie fungus has been discovered - BBC World Service #shorts

Scientists have identified a new species of “zombie fungus” in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM The parasite, named Purpureocillium atlanticum because of its purplish colour and the location where it was discovered, takes over the bodies of trapdoor spiders, which live underground and build traps above ground to catch their prey. The fungus emerges from the dead spider and releases spores above ground, which then infect other spiders. ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram 👉🏽 https://www.instagram.com/bbcworldservice Twitter 👉🏽 https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice Facebook 👉🏽 https://facebook.com/bbcworldservice BBC World Service website 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #worldservice #AmazonRainforest #ClimateChange #BBCWorldService #TheClimateQuestion #Deforestation #DrErikaBerenguer #Brazil #Wildlife #Nature #Science