Scientists recorded the first conclusive video evidence, in Madagascar, of a terrestrial bloodsucker jumping from a leaf, rebutting previous doubts that they could do so.
Researchers had debated for more than a century whether leeches could jump until the ground-breaking footage, published in the journal Biotropica .
Lead author Dr. Mai Fahmy, of Fordham University, New York, said: “We believe this is the first convincing evidence that leeches can jump and do so with visible energy expenditure.
“There have been previous accounts of leeches jumping, including onto people, but those reports were often explained away as leeches just attaching to passers-by as they brushed against shrubs or dropping from a branch above.
"This study dispels that argument.”
Dr. Fahmy recorded footage of leeches from the genus Chtonobdella coiling back on a leaf and then taking off. during two separate expeditions to Madagascar in 2017 and in 2023.
Dr. Fahmy and co-author Dr. Michael Tessler , an Assistant Professor at CUNY’s Medgar Evans College, compared the motion to a “back-bending cobra” or to a spring being pulled back.
In both cases, the leech keeps its body extended as it soars through the air to the ground, in a notable departure from their usual inchworm-like movements.
Dr. Tessler said: “Essentially, it executes a graceful jump but with a seemingly hard landing."
The researchers said several other worm-like invertebrates can jump, including the legless larvae of gall midges, which assume a loop posture before propelling themselves into the air, the larvae of Mediterranean fruit flies and several caterpillars.
Dr. Fahmy collected the jumping leech she observed on the 2023 trip, and the researchers identified it as Chtonobdella fallax, a common species in Madagascar.
The larger Chtonobdella group of leeches to which C. fallax belongs can be found across Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Malay Archipelago, and the South Pacific Islands.
Dr. Tessler said: “We do not know how often this may happen or whether these leeches use this ability to seek out hosts, but, given that we caught multiple jumps in two short recordings, this behaviour may be common for this species."
The researchers stressed that understanding overall leech behaviour is also important to conservation efforts because leeches - and more specifically, their blood meals - are increasingly being collected to survey vertebrate biodiversity.
Dr. Fahmy added: “If we can identify how leeches find and attach to hosts, we can better understand the results of their gut content analyses.
“Leeches are also often overlooked and understudied, and, as a natural part of the ecosystem, leeches themselves may be in need of conservation protection.”
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0