Kenyan biologist Dino Martins' new book, "Hidden Creatures," invites readers into the often-gruesome but ecologically vital world of parasites. Martins, described as possessing a capacity for wonder akin to David Attenborough, uses lyrical prose to explore the harmonious complexity of the natural world, even in its most unsettling forms.
The book details the life cycle of parasites such as the eye worm, which resides in the eye sockets of animals and uses flies as vectors to spread. Martins also examines the biological role of maggots, describing how they act as decomposers and recyclers when feeding on carcasses, transforming nutrients for other creatures and preventing waste. This decomposition process has even been harnessed in medicine, where sterilized maggot larvae are used in the U.S. to treat infected flesh by removing dying tissue and preventing gangrene.
Martins also touches upon the darker side of parasites, highlighting mosquitoes as carriers of the malaria parasite, which causes over half a million deaths annually. The biologist recounts contracting malaria himself, a severe infection of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest strain of the parasite, and his subsequent fascination with observing his own infected blood.
Despite the inherent cruelty and the often-unpleasant nature of parasites, "Hidden Creatures" aims to evoke a sense of enchantment and awe. Martins' writing style, which compares rain clouds to "purple, blue-black water wagons," illuminates the perverse beauty found in nature's less appealing aspects. The book suggests that by the end, readers may find themselves viewing creatures like leeches, maggots, and tapeworms with a degree of admiration for their intricate roles in the ecosystem.
"Hidden Creatures" is published by William Collins and is 336 pages long.