Ophiocordyceps

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Ophiocordyceps
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Dead ants infected with Ophiocordyceps unilateralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Sordariomycetes
Order:
Hypocreales
Family:
Ophiocordycipitaceae
Genus:
Ophiocordyceps

Petch (1931)
Type species
Ophiocordyceps blattae
(Petch) Petch (1931)
Synonyms[1]

Cordycepioideus Stifler (1941)

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Ophiocordyceps is a genus of fungi within the family Ophiocordycipitaceae.[2] The widespread genus, first described scientifically by British mycologist Tom Petch in 1931,[3] contains about 140 species that grow on insects.[4] Anamorphic genera that correspond with Ophiocordyceps species are Hirsutella, Hymenostilbe, Isaria, Paraisaria, and Syngliocladium.[5]

One species complex, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, is known for its parasitism on ants, in which it alters the behavior of the ants in such a way as to propagate itself more effectively, killing the ant and then growing its fruiting bodies from the ant's head and releasing its spores.[6][7]

Species

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References

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  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ In Fossilized Leaf, Clues to a Zombie Ant, by Sindya N Bhanoo New York Times 24 August 2010
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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