Hidden Creatures: Luscious Leeches, Bashful Botflies and the Wondrous, Hist

Welcome to the hidden, squirming world of parasites – some of the most misunderstood, and most important, creatures with whom we share the Earth. And our bodies. From the tapeworm that can grow one hundred and twenty feet within the gut of a whale, to the tsetse fly whose needle-like mouth can pierce even crocodile skin, and the much-mythologised leech, this book explores the vital role of parasites in every ecosystem on Earth. These creatures have driven evolution, shaped civilisations, and altered the course of human history, yet have been largely ignored.

Dr Dino Martins, an award-winning entomologist and biologist from Kenya's Turkana Basin, takes readers on an immersive journey around the world. From the wilds of East Africa to the rainforests of the Amazon, from Borneo to the public parks of London, the book encounters brilliant and eccentric experts and students investigating parasites and their astonishing cast of hosts, including elephants, rhinos, hyraxes, hippos, and humans.

Immersive, entertaining, and driven by an utterly infectious curiosity, Hidden Creatures has the magnetic force of a David Attenborough documentary and introduces a monumental, charismatic new voice in science writing. It will transform your understanding of the natural world.

Key Features/Benefits:

• Explores the often-misunderstood world of parasites.
• Highlights the vital role of parasites in ecosystems and evolution.
• Features journeys to diverse locations worldwide.
• Introduces a new voice in science writing.

Specifications:

• Author: Dino Martins
• Publisher: William Collins
• Publication Date: 30 July 2026
• Language: English
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Binding: Hardcover
• Color: Four-color
• Dimensions: 159 x 34 x 240mm
• Weight: 538g
• ISBN-10: 0008753326
• ISBN-13: 978-0008753320

This book offers a compelling and entertaining look into the lives of parasites and their profound impact on our planet.