Scientists Discover First Fossilized Leech!

The first ever fossilized leech!
Post Author- Ellis Nolan
Halloween Season is officially upon us, and with that, we present a chilling tale of an ancient, blood-sucking fiend: the leech. The subject of many swimmers’ worst nightmare, a recent study suggests the leech may be millions of years older than originally presumed and may not have sucked blood.
These new discoveries about the leech originate from a fossil recovered in the Waukesha Biota fossil site in Wisconsin. This site is categorized as a Konservat-Lagerstätten, a region where fossils are preserved with exceptional clarity, particularly in the case of organic tissues, which often go unpreserved in regular conditions. The leech is a perfect example of such an organism and such a fossil; scientists note the subject of the study is the only body fossil of a leech ever found.
The fossil in question is an exceptionally preserved tube-shaped marine worm, whose characteristics closely resemble that of a modern leech, particularly its large sucker. However, the researchers note that this ancient worm probably didn’t suck blood, since the vertebrate fossils discovered in the Waukesha Biota would have been much too small. These worms also lack the biological hardware modern worms use in their vampiric practices as well, and thus, likely swallowed their prey whole or, more unsettlingly, sucked their insides out. Shudder.
Scientists previously believed leeches’ oldest ancestors (subclass hirudinea) to have originated during the Jurassic or Cretaceous Period, however, this organism appears to date from the Silurean Period, about 200 million years earlier. The authors note that while this is already a massive shift, it is possible that leeches could be even older, as their tissue composition already makes for a rare fossil. Furthermore, it’s difficult to judge whether this organism is a direct ancestor of modern leeches specifically as not all of the body is intact.
Want to learn more about aquatic fossils? Check out our collection here!
Featured Product
Dracula's Castle Soil Coffin - Display Card 🦇
Cool Things!

Scientists Discover First Fossilized Leech!
Halloween Season is officially upon us, and with that, we present a chilling tale of an ancient, blood-sucking fiend: the leech. The subject of many swimmers’ worst nightmare, a recent study suggests the leech may be millions of years older than originally presumed, and may not have sucked blood.

Researchers Recreate Dinosaur Sounds Using Bizarre Instrument!
Since the first discoveries of dinosaur fossils, much attention has been paid to their physical characteristics; what they looked like. Did they have feathers, scales or both? How did they walk, on two legs or four? So on and so forth. A recent project aims to shed light on another aspect of how dinosaurs were perceived - their sounds!

Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible!
Last Thursday, an auction set a new record for Star Wars memorabilia, when a screen-used prop of Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for over $3.6 million.
Specimen Deep Dives

The House that Ruth Built: The Story of the Old Yankee Stadium

The Queen of the Skies: the Story of the Boeing 747

Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
Long Form Articles

The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.

Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.

Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!