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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensgWorth watching...really makes you pause and reflect for a second.
The Amber Snail, like any common snail, eats all sorts of disgusting things. To set the scene, let’s take a look at the Amber Snail. Watch as it inches its way up the leaves of a plant and finally gets to tuck into its reward: a steaming, nutritious pile of bird droppings. MmmHmm! Unfortunately, unbeknownst to the snail, it’s also consuming hundreds of unborn flatworm eggs. The eggs hatch out in the following days and grow into a somewhat larger parasite which then moves into the snails two antennae, vastly enlarging them in the process. This means that the snail is unable to retract entirely into its shell.It gets worse. The flatworm, not content with taking over the snails body, also takes over its mind. It’s not entirely known how it does so, suffice to say it modifies the snails behavior and the snail, contrary to its nature, now wants to seek out open, exposed areas. So up it goes, inching its way into the canopy above, finally resting in an open area as the perfect target. It’s even complete with enlarged, pulsating antennae. Along comes a hungry bird which plucks off the antennae, usually leaving the snail relatively unharmed (it can regenerate new appendages).The flatworm slowly matures into its sexual stage and lays its eggs in the birds gut. The bird, flies along and goes about its business, leaving droppings on the leaves of the flora. Along comes a snail to feast on this juicy morsel, and the cycle continues...