Hidden Creatures
Luscious Leeches, Bashful Botflies and the Wondrous, History-Shaping World of Parasites
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Hidden Creatures
Pre-order Now for £13.78
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Narrated by:
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By:
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Dino Martins
About this listen
Dr. Dino Martins, an awarding-winning entomologist of Kenya's Turkana Basin, where life was born, unspools the hidden, squirming world of parasites− some of the most misunderstood, and important, creatures with whom we share the Earth (and our bodies).
'Your world will be larger for reading this book' CHLOE DALTON author of Raising HareWhen we think of parasites, we might think of terrifying tiny creatures who suck blood and steal food, and that’s definitely a part of what these mysterious organisms are − but, as Martins shows, it’s only a part. From the tapeworm, which can grow a remarkable 120 feet in length within the gut of a whale, to the tsetse fly, a notorious vector of disease that can pierce the skin even of crocodiles with its vicious, needle-like mouth, to perhaps the most universal symbol of parasitic behavior in our language, the much-mythologized leech, all parasites make a living by exploiting other living things.
In each chapter, Martins takes us through gaping geological time to explain the history of a particular parasite’s evolution and its interactions with humans and animals alike. This is a journey across the world ten times over − from Nairobi to New York, East Africa to the Amazon, Borneo to London public parks − and to the outer reaches of the animal kingdom. Along the way, we meet the brilliant and eccentric experts who join Martins on his adventures and encounter not only parasites but their incredible variety of hosts, from hyraxes and hippos to, of course, the elusive human.
Throughout history, parasites have been used to cure disease, seen as delicious delicacies, and feared among the most dangerous banes of existence. But there is much to learn about these critters yet, and Martins is just the person to take on the task. Immersive, entertaining, driven by a curiosity that’s utterly infectious, Hidden Creatures has the magnetic force of a David Attenborough documentary and never ceases to surprise.
©2026 Dino MartinsCritic reviews
'An astonishing, eye-opening and inspiring guide to the world’s microscopic marvels […] Wonderfully revolting and utterly fascinating, it is a thrilling tribute to the interconnectedness of life, full of awe-inspiring detail and gripping facts. It will make you want to rush out and look at puddles through a magnifying glass. Your world will be larger for reading this book' Chloe Dalton, author of Raising Hare
'Dino Martin’s genius is to make you care about the world’s most despised and disgusting creatures—and find them fascinating, vital, and even beautiful. A mind-blowing, eye-watering revelation of a book' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding
'If you've ever been bitten by a mosquito, plucked a flea from your dog, dealt with kid with nits or suffered an unwelcome bout of intestinal visitors, you'll find yourself compelled by how these encounters unfold and the ways in which these tiny organisms shape entire ecosystems. Hidden Creatures is nature storytelling at its most compulsive—revealing the hidden dramas playing out in backyards, bodies, bloodstreams and beyond' Aminatta Forna, author of The Devil That Danced on the Water
‘Dino Martins is a naturalist, an artist, and a scientist of global repute but above all else, he is a lover of life and a born teacher. No other writer I can think of could conjure such vivid lessons in ecology through such a lively Pageant of Parasite Portraits. This is an important and profoundly penetrating book that should be in the libraries of every school, university and laboratory' Jonathan Kingdon, author of Origin Africa
'A fascinating, loving book about the mysterious, vital, and complex lives of the parasites that live under your feet and in your hair. Hidden Creatures is full of stories – atmospheric, hugely informative, and absolutely disgusting. I loved it' Daisy Hildyard, author of Emergency
'A gorgeous (if squirm-inducing) book on the awe-inspiring ways that “well and truly life begets death and death begets life”' Kirkus Reviews