Parasites have roamed the Earth for a long time. They were here before the dinosaurs: The oldest fossils are more than 500 million years old.

But actually finding these fossils is a rarity. That's, in part, because parasites tend to be made of only soft tissue that doesn't preserve well in rock. Today on the show, Regina G. Barber speaks with paleontologists Karma Nanglu and Danielle de Carle about a mysterious fossil called the "Riddler," and the oldest-ever leech fossil.

They share stories of the power of parasitism through the ages and why the clues to prehistoric mysteries may be tucked in a basement.

Interested in more science behind rare fossils? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org .

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our wo

See Full Page