Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe Zombie fish
Jan 8, 2026
Discover the bizarre world of brain-infecting parasites in California killifish. The hosts explore how these parasites manipulate fish behavior to enhance their own survival. From odd movements to the implications of being eaten by birds, the conversation is both educational and entertaining. Dive into the fascinating life cycle of the parasite and learn about cutting-edge research on behavior changes. Plus, there's discussion on the potential ecological benefits and biomedical leads from these tiny creatures.
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Parasite-Linked Conspicuous Fish Behavior
- Brain-infecting trematode Euoploircus (Yuha) makes California killifish behave conspicuously in estuaries.
- These behaviors likely increase fish visibility to predatory birds, the parasite's final host.
Snail Gonads Turn Into Parasite Factories
- Yuha infects snails, castrates their gonads, then releases thousands of free-swimming stages to find fish.
- Those stages burrow into fish, track nerves to the brain, and form cysts on the brain surface.
Parasite Castes Cooperate Inside Snails
- Yuha clones inside snail gonads produce specialized soldier and reproductive forms that cooperate.
- Soldiers defend the resource by destroying incoming competing parasite stages.