Leeches Didn't Always Suck Blood — Ancient Fossils Reveal They Swallowed Prey Whole (www.discovermagazine.com)
from cm0002@sh.itjust.works to science@mander.xyz on 06 Oct 01:59
https://sh.itjust.works/post/47388297

#science

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TowardsTheFuture@lemmy.zip on 06 Oct 02:52 next collapse

That’s before blood coagulants evolved, from a quick Google search… so… maybe it was not particularly needed and they still did suck on blood just… slower.

jordanlund@lemmy.world on 06 Oct 03:57 next collapse

Is that more or less disturbing?

ininewcrow@lemmy.ca on 06 Oct 04:59 next collapse

Instantly made me think of the pit scene from the 2005 movie King Kong … especially the part with the giant worms

youtu.be/wlWFbhNV340

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today on 06 Oct 05:11 collapse

they still do, extant species will swallow prey hole, its the predatory leech, snails, frogs, or anything. i suspect this was also the basis for the goauld symbiotes from sg1. in sg1 they had the more ancient predatory(hemiparasites) forms that dont need hosts, and the current ones thare obligate parasites.