Leech

Description:

Chtonobdella whitmani is the most common leech species in the Brisbane area of Queensland, Australia. This spotting is for fellow ranger Scott Frazier, freshy back from a field trip in Papua:-)

Habitat:

Removed from boot before it could engorge. Spotted at D'Aguilar Ranges National park. Found in creeks and wet forests.

Notes:

1-5 cm long. Black-brown above with central stripe; pale below. Leeches feed on the blood of mammals by attaching to their skin using a sucker around their mouth. They then make an incision into the flesh, secrete an anaesthetic making sure the bite goes undetected as we all as an anticoagulant (hirudin) that prevents clotting and allows the blood to flow. When finished with feeding they will drop to the ground, engorged. The wound will keep bleeding for some time and later itch for days! A tropical bushwalker's nightmare, leeches are not considered dangerous.