How plausible is a photosynthetic parasite that targets animal hosts?
Real parasitic plants target only plant hosts and in certain species fungal hosts. How plausible are parasitic plants (or algae, lichen, or other photosynthetic organisms) that targets animal hosts similarly to parasitic fungi? What would be efficient survival strategies? What evolutionary pressures would select for animal hosts?
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I think evolution could handle this, given enough time and the right pressures. Here are the steps, in brief:
- Start with an existing carnivorous plant like a butterwort or bladderwort.
- Increase the potency of the mucilage for both its stickiness and digestive abilities
- Develop topipotency, the ability to re-grow from stems that stick to a host and that break off. Some species might already be there.
- Develop an anesthetic within the mucilage or otherwise so the host doesn't try to bite or scratch at the infected site.
Before you know it, you've got one of these blooming on your elbow, drawing nutrition out of your blood and muscles.
How lovely.
This post was sourced from https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/a/51242. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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