The popular HBO series, The Last of Us, has introduced the fictional concept of a fungus infecting humans and turning them into mindless zombies. However, the Cordyceps fungus actually only infects insects. Recently, a team of researchers in India made an interesting discovery that demonstrates the adaptability of this microorganism and its ability to survive and thrive in unusual conditions. They found a living frog body covered in mushroom sprouts.

When observing fauna around a small pond at the foot of the Kudremukh Mountains in India, naturalist researcher Chinmay Maliye and wetland specialist Lohit YT discovered a frog whose body was covered in fungus. They wrote in their documentation report, "To our knowledge, fungus growing on the side of a living frog's body has never been documented before." They continued, "One living creature found on a branch had clear growth on the left side of its body. Upon closer examination, it was clear that there was fungus growing from its body."

One theory that can explain this phenomenon is that the fungus found suitable conditions to thrive in the wounds experienced by the frogs. However, the images taken by the two Indian researchers do not show any signs of wounds or skin diseases on the frog's body. There is still much unknown about this strange finding, such as the actual type of fungus, whether it is the frog's skin or other organic material trapped in old wounds, and what happens to the fungus afterwards.