2024/07/18 by Harry Tuazon, Samuel David, Kenneth Ma +1 · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Medicine · #Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones #Leech Biology and Applications #Marine and environmental studies
paper · doi:10.1093/icb/icae118
openalex publication_date 2024/07/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We investigate how the Helobdella sp. freshwater leeches capture and consume Lumbriculus variegatus blackworms despite the blackworm's ultrafast helical swimming escape reflex and ability to form large tangled "blobs." We describe a spiral "entombment" predation strategy, where Helobdellid leeches latch onto blackworms with their anterior sucker and envelop them in a spiral cocoon. Quantitative analysis shows that larger leeches succeed more often in entombing prey, while longer worms tend to escape. The rate of spiral contraction correlates with entombment outcomes, with slower rates associated with success. These insights highlight the complex interactions between predator and prey in freshwater ecosystems, providing new perspectives on ecological adaptability and predator-prey dynamics.