Mind-control Fungus

A stalk of the new fungus species Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani grows out of a "zombie" ant's head in a Brazilian rain forest. Originally thought to be a single species, called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the fungus is actually four distinct species—all of which can "mind control" ants, scientists announced in March. The fungus species can infect an ant producing compounds that affect the ant's brain and change its behaviour, and then kill the insect once the fungus moves to an ideal location for growing and spreading its spores.

"Higher funghi"

 


The Basidiomycota are one of two phyla of “higher fungi” - the other being the Ascomycota.
The primary differentiation between the two phyla is their method of reproduction.

What we call “mushrooms” are found in both phyla, with the Basidiomycota generally being more woody or leathery in texture, and the Ascomycota being more soft and fleshy. For example, species such as the chanterelles, shiitakes, giant puffballs, and sulfur shelf (chicken mushroom/Chicken of the Woods) are all Basidiomycotes. Morels and truffles are some Ascomycotes, along with many other interesting fungi, like Baker’s Yeast, the fungus that gave us penicillin, and the fungus that gives us blue cheeses.

Kunstformen der Natur [Plate 63]. Ernst Haeckel, 1904.

Internal Anatomy of the Grass Frog [Genus Litoria]

As different as frogs are from you and I, you can clearly see how
similar vertebrates are to each other when you dissect one. One heart,
two lungs, a stomach, liver, spleen, gall bladder, intestines, kidneys,
bladder, and gonads are visible in this particular dissection, as well
 as the extraordinarily strong leg muscles.

Brehms Tierleben, Bd. 1. Alfred Brehms, 1911.

Ornithorhynchus Anatinus (Platypus)

 "The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud.

It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypus having a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. While both male and female platypuses are born with ankle spurs, only the male has spurs which produce a cocktail of venom,composed largely of defensin-like proteins (DLPs), three of which are unique to the platypus. The defensin proteins are produced by the immune system of the platypus. Although powerful enough to kill smaller animals such as dogs, the venom is not lethal to humans, but the pain is so excruciating that the victim may be incapacitated.

 Since only males produce venom and production rises during the breeding season, it may be used as an offensive weapon to assert dominance during this period."

 From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus

Sardines keeping their distance in South Africa

Venus Transit 6.6.12

"A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth (or another planet), becoming visible against (and hence obscuring a small portion of) the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun. The duration of such transits is usually measured in hours (the transit of 2012 lasted 6 hours and 40 minutes). A transit is similar to a solar eclipse by the Moon. While the diameter of Venus is more than 3 times that of the Moon, Venus appears smaller, and travels more slowly across the face of the Sun, because it is much farther away from Earth."

Amazing work by Daniel Firman

Check out other work from french artist Daniel Firman.