Madagascar - June 20, 2024

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have captured compelling video footage demonstrating that a terrestrial leech species from Madagascar, known as Chtonobdella, possesses the ability to jump—a behavior long debated within scientific circles. Published today in the journal Biotropica, the study, led by researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, Fordham University, and City University of New York's Medgar Evers College, challenges century-old skepticism surrounding leech locomotion.

Lead author Mai Fahmy, a visiting scientist at the American Museum of Natural History and postdoctoral researcher at Fordham University, described the significance of the findings: "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."

During expeditions in 2017 and 2023, Fahmy 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 "backbending cobra," noting the leech's extended body posture during flight.

The study focused on Chtonobdella fallax, a common species in Madagascar. Fahmy emphasized the potential implications for conservation, highlighting the role of leeches in biodiversity surveys and ecosystem health.

Further research aims to unravel the frequency and ecological significance of leech jumping behavior, shedding light on these enigmatic creatures' adaptations and interactions within their habitats.