Appears in Newsflare picks
00:46

Scientists discover how leeches jump to move through forest

Content Partner Cover Image
Content Partner Profile Image
Uploaded by a Newsflare content partner

Buy video

Scientists claimed they discovered how leeches jump to move through a forest.

Footage shows how terrestrial leech species called Chtonobdella hopped from one leaf to another to travel around a rainforest in Madagascar.

The study led by researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, Fordham University, and City University of New York's Medgar Evers College was published this week in the journal Biotropica.

Lead author Mai Fahmy, a visiting scientist at the American Museum of Natural History and postdoctoral researcher at Fordham University said: 'This is the first conclusive evidence showing leeches actively jumping with observable energy expenditure.

'Previous accounts of leeches jumping onto people were often dismissed as incidental contact. Our study dispels those doubts.'

However, during expeditions in 2017 and 2023, Fahmy said they recorded instances of Chtonobdella leeches coiling and launching themselves from leaves.

Co-author Michael Tessler, an assistant professor at CUNY's Medgar Evers College, likened the motion to a 'back bending cobra' noting the leech's extended body posture during flight.

Fahmy emphasized the potential implications for conservation, highlighting the role of leeches in biodiversity surveys and ecosystem health.

They said that further research will aim to unravel leech jumping behaviour's frequency and its ecological significance.

Categories

Tags

From the blog

Stories not Stock: 3 Reasons Why You Should Use UGC Instead of Stock Video

Video content is an essential part of a brand’s marketing strategy, and while stock footage has been a reliable go-to in the past, forward-thinking companies are looking to user-generated content for their video needs.

View post
Content Partner Cover Image
Content Partner Profile Image
Uploaded by a Newsflare content partner

Buy video