MANAUS, BRAZIL - A fungus parasitizing a giant tarantula was discovered inside the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, in Manaus, Brazil. The specimen is highly specialized and poses no risk to humans, according to researcher Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler-Santos of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).

Cordyceps caloceroides is a rare parasitic fungus that primarily infects arachnids, particularly tarantulas of the species Theraphosa blondii, in the Amazon rainforest. The infection results in distinctive orange reproductive structures emerging from the host’s body.

Drechsler-Santos also emphasized the importance of studying and conserving fungi. He noted that fungi play a fundamental role in ecosystems and hold significant economic potential.

“They are important resources for the pharmaceutical and food industries, as well as for medicine. Penicillin is a classic example,” the researcher explained.

Brazil is home to more than 10% of the world’s biodiversity, including fungal species, many of which are found nowhere else.

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