I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching a documentary or watched a YouTube video and been astounded by how raw and, to be honest, terrifying nature can be. The truth is that many of us know very little about the world around us, which is fine; after all, the world is a very, very huge place.

While that concept may be unsettling for some, I believe it is equally vital to remember that the numerous hidden wonders of the earth are what make this massive rock we call home so unique. Wouldn’t it be dull if everyone looked and acted the same way?

I admit to having a natural fascination with all things ‘wild,’ so it’s no wonder that I was pulled to a movie about a unique kind of fungus known as the Octopus stinkhorn. It is also known as the “devil’s fingers” because of its striking look, and its journey to maturity is as captivating.

Don’t worry if you didn’t realize this fungus existed before reading this post; you’re not alone! The fungus is endemic to Australia and New Zealand, but it has spread to other continents, including Europe and North America.

This unusual fungus appears to emerge from what appears to be a cracked egg (it is not) before developing a swarm of elongated, pink arms. If the Octopus stinkhorn’s appearance wasn’t enough to frighten you, the fungus is said to smell like rotten flesh when mature! This is assumed to be an evolutionary mechanism to attract flies to act as spore disposal agents.