Gnatbobdellida libbata

When it’s been raining we get leeches. Jess spotted this one stuck to the underside of her table. From the description on the Australian Museum Leech page this Leech is classified as a “jawed leech” being in the Gnatbobdellida group:

“The jawed leeches or Gnatbobdellida have jaws armed with teeth with which they bite the host. The blood is prevented from clotting by production of a non-enzymatic secretion called hirudin. The land leech commonly encountered by bushwalkers is included in this group.”

The most common species in this group is the Gnatbobdellida libbata, with my 15 minutes of leech identification expertise I reckon that’s what this fella is.

more info:

• http://australianmuseum.net.au/Leeches
• http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Oceania/Australia/photo11325.htm