Parasites are everywhere. They come in all
shapes and sizes and can do a lot of harm to the host. Some parasites would
just cling to the host and take only what’s enough to survive. However, there
are those which can actually turn their host into a zombie-like creature and do
whatever they want to do.
The barnacle Sacculina
is a parasitic specie that targets crabs as their host. They shed their hard
shells and inject themselves into the crab’s body. Once inside, it becomes a
puppet master. They have the ability to control the crab and prevent it from
reproducing, digesting, regenerating, growing and even molting. Instead, this
reprogrammed crab focuses all its energy and time to nourish its parasitic
master and even caring for the offsprings of the Sacculina. The parasite does not
only get a home, but food and a babysitter as well.
During its larva stage, female specimen of
the Sacculina has a hard outer shell, like the other barnacle species. Once she
finds a host, it moves around the crab’s body until it finds a joint where it
can easily inject itself inside the crab and leaves its outer shell, making the
Sacculina a unique form compared to other kinds of barnacle.
Once inside the crab, it then develops a
complex root system which is made out of tendrils. These then extend to the
host’s abdomen, controlling its intestine and other parts of the crab’s
digestive system. It also stretches out to the crab’s cerebral ganglion and
thoracic ganglion which is equivalent to the brain and nerve center. The
Sacculina then has control over the crab.
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