So much for draining the swamp.
A researcher at the Smithsonian Institute announced the discovery of a new species of bloodsucking leech with 3 jaws and 59 teeth.
The amazing part of the discovery is the new species resides in the environs of the nation’s capital and remained hidden in plain sight for decades.
The new species was named Macrobdella mimicus because it looks so similar to other Macrobdella leech species.
No doubt our readers could think of much more appropriate names for bloodsucking leeches found in the DC area. Perhaps Pelosiosa Carniverous for example.
Leeches often get a bad rap, but our curator of Clitellata and parasitic worms is on a mission to make these bloodsuckers seem a little less scary. https://t.co/5tTIDZ49Uc
— Smithsonian’s NMNH (@NMNH) August 23, 2019