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Leech

Hirudinea

Photo by Martin S
Published on Project Noah
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Species ID Suggestions

Tiger leech

Haemadipsa picta

Comments (3)

I was bitten by one of these in Sabah, Malaysia. This is a hungry one. If it was fatter and well-fed, you'd see that they're commonly called "tiger leeches" because of their lengthwise darker and lighter stripes. Most people feel a stinging or pinching sensation when tiger leeches bite (unlike most leeches, whose venom contains an anesthetic), so they usually get brushed off quickly. I'm the one in a million who is immune to the venom, so the tiger leech under my arm had a chance to get nice and fat before I discovered it!
Photographed
PublishedMarch 24, 2012

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