Regina G. Barber

Because they basically still exist in our ocean today.

Yeah, and Danielle, you helped Karma on some other research.

We're talking about, again, this mystery you found, this really rare fossil, this clue to, like, leech evolution.

And normally when we think about leeches, we think they are parasites, right?

But your study...

is kind of unique, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And what's fun is like this fossil wasn't hidden away or newly unearthed.

You both found out it existed from a published paper about a fossil site in Wisconsin.

Yeah.

And Karma, how did you feel when they rejected you like that?

How did you all confirm?

Like what was the process in being like, yes, this is the first leech fossil, leech fossil?

So Karma, you were right.

Like, do you feel vindicated?

Like, in the end, it was a different fossil, but your suspicion of these things being leeches, you're right.

Daniel, what does this tell us about modern-day leeches, that now we have a fossil record?

I've been covering paleontology stories for a couple of years now.

And one of the things that always sticks with me is just how many fossils are just sitting around.