Zombie Ants

Four new species of the zombifying fungi, members of the Ophiocordyceps (or just Cordyceps) genus have apparently been discovered. These fungi are the sworn enemy of tropical ants and other insects, infecting them and causing their unusual behavior, according to Mongabay.

Once it infects an ant, the fungus uses as-yet-unidentified chemicals to control the ant's behavior, [study researcher David] Hughes told LiveScience. It directs the ant to leave its colony (a very un-ant-like thing to do) and bite down on the underside of a leaf -- the ant's soon-to-be resting place. Once it is killed by the fungus, the ant remains anchored in place, thanks to its death grip on the leaf.

Ultimately, the fungus produces a long stalk that protrudes from the ant's head, shooting spores out in the hopes of infecting other ants. Two of the four newly discovered species also sprouted smaller stalks elsewhere, including from the victim's feet and lower leg joints - the equivalent of knees.
The video below, from Planet Earth, gives an incredible time-lapsed view of what Cordyceps fungi can do.

The discovery of these four new Cordyceps species, each specific to a different ant in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, will help scientists study the role of zombie fungi in a degraded habitat, reports Mongabay. The initial paper on the new fungi was published in the open-access journal, PloS ONE.

Corolla Spider

The Corolla Spider uses quartz rocks to set a trap for its prey. Once an insect rubs up on the quartz rock, the spider knows where to strike.

Barreleye Fish

The barreleye lives more than 2,000 feet (600 meters) beneath the ocean's surface, where the water is almost inky.

The transparent-headed fish spends much of its time motionless, eyes upward, MBARI scientists discovered while watching the barreleye fish from a remotely operated vehicle.

The green lens atop each of the fish's eyes filters out what little sunlight makes it down from the surface, allowing the fish to focus on the bioluminescence of small jellies or other prey passing overhead.

Then the eyes rotate forward to follow the prey, allowing the fish to home in on its meal.

Giant Shark

MOLOKAI (KHNL) -- If you thought the movie 'Jaws' was scary, imagine what oceanographers thought when they saw a shark bigger than their submarine, swimming just feet away from them.

It happened in Hawaiian waters just off the coast of Moloka'i. It's a rare deep sea ocean find captured on video off the northeast coast of the island. Most sharks are known to have just five gills and although some have been spotted before with six, never before like this giant.

You can clearly see all six gills. Professors from UH Manoa and HPU estimate this monster of a shark to be more than 17 feet in length.

Dr. Eric Vetter of Hawaii Pacific Univeristy was on board the submarine and said, "We're pretty much blown away. Usually we're seeing small eels, small crustaceans, shrimp, things called anthropods, but in this case we had what appeared to be a 17 feet to 18 feet, six gill shark and there was a lot of excitement in the submarine."

Vetter has been on many dives in his career and says this is definitely the biggest one he's ever seen, or heard of in Hawaiian waters.

Thief Spider

Underwater Camouflage