Hidden Creatures: Luscious Leeches, Bashful Botflies and the Wondrous, History-Shaping World of Parasites

Description:

Discover the fascinating world of parasites and their hidden influence on all life.

When we think of parasites, we might think of terrifying tiny creatures who suck blood and steal food, and that’s definitely a part of what these mysterious organisms are - but, as Martins shows, it’s only a part. From the tapeworm, which can grow a remarkable 120 feet in length within the gut of a whale, to the tsetse fly, a notorious vector of disease that can pierce the skin even of crocodiles with its vicious, needle-like mouth, to perhaps the most universal symbol of parasitic behaviour in our language, the much-mythologised leech, all parasites make a living by exploiting other living things.

In each chapter, Martins takes us through gaping geological time to explain the history of a particular parasite’s evolution and its interactions with humans and animals alike. This is a journey across the world ten times over - from Nairobi to New York, East Africa to the Amazon, Borneo to London public parks - and to the outer reaches of the animal kingdom. Along the way, we meet the brilliant and eccentric experts who join Martins on his adventures and encounter not only parasites but their incredible variety of hosts, from hyraxes and hippos to, of course, the elusive human.

Throughout history, parasites have been used to cure disease, seen as delicious delicacies, and feared among the most dangerous banes of existence. But there is much to learn about these critters yet, and Martins is just the person to take on the task. Immersive, entertaining, driven by a curiosity that’s utterly infectious, this book has the magnetic force of a David Attenborough documentary and never ceases to surprise.