Hunt for the Giant Leech
- By Peter Tyson
- Posted 07.01.08
- NOVA scienceNOW
Imagine you're about to join leech expert Mark Siddall on a field search for the giant Amazonian leech. As he leads you knee-deep into the leech's swampy tropical habitat, you consider what you'd urgently like to know about the near-mythic creature he's seeking. For starters, how big? Well, it's the world's largest bloodsucking leech, growing up to a foot and a half long. Any other questions?
Credits
Images
- (Mark Siddall on porch)
- Courtesy Sara Watson;
- (French Guyana)
- © Philippe Giraud/Goodlook/Corbis;
- (canoe on river, scorpion, leaf, rash, foot, capybara, caiman, bloody leg, long leech in hand, fat leech in two palms, undissected & dissected leeches)
- Courtesy Mark Siddall;
- (Siddall in swamp, Siddall bending in water)
- Courtesy Susan Perkins;
- (piranha)
- © Wolfgang Kaehler/CORBIS;
- (anaconda)
- © Reuters/CORBIS;
- (Roy Sawyer with leech)
- Courtesy Timothy Branning/tbranning@mac.com
Related Links
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A century after falling out of favor, medicinal leeches are back in hospitals, sucking away on patients' wounds.
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Mark Siddall, lord of leeches at the American Museum, answers questions about these stretchy, bloodsucking creatures.
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Meet Mark Siddall, a leech expert and chef of exotic food.
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