The ‘Parasite of Parasites’ Has Been Discovered in the Tropical Forests of Borneo
Key takeaways
- The new fungal species, named Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata for its distinctive horn-shaped structure, has been described in the journal Phytotaxa.
- The new hyperparasite was identified during a series of field expeditions in the remote Danum Valley region of the Malaysian state of Sabah.
- The newly discovered fungus specifically targets ants already infected by Ophiocordyceps, commonly known as the zombie fungus.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Photograph: Gunter Fischer/Getty Images Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Scientists from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah have discovered a newly identified “parasite of parasites” in the tropical forests of Borneo. More specifically, it is what the researchers describe as a hyperparasite—an organism capable of parasitizing other parasites. In this case, its targets are zombie fungi.
The new fungal species, named Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata for its distinctive horn-shaped structure, has been described in the journal Phytotaxa.
The new hyperparasite was identified during a series of field expeditions in the remote Danum Valley region of the Malaysian state of Sabah. According to Phys.org, researchers came across Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata almost by chance while examining a dead ant.