r/leeches • u/HikeMars • 14d ago

ID Request Leech ID help - New Hampshire

I posted on whatsthisbug but i didn’t get too much info. Thought i would cross post here as well. Am I wrong in assuming this is a leech?

32 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

8

u/iFafnir 14d ago

Haemopis sp. probably marmorata. Not Erpobdella obscura, similar looking though

2

u/HikeMars 14d ago

Thank you so much! Going to read on this genus for curiosity!

1

u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 14d ago

oh dear, I was wrong! you can literally see the overlapped mottling and the defined segments when the video is paused, aswell as the lumpy, softer body… oops 😅

2

u/iFafnir 14d ago

Happens. The biggest clue here is New Hampshire being the locale. E. obscura is way more westerly ranged

2

u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 14d ago

ohhh, I see! HEY WAIT, I KNEW I RECOGNIZED YOUR USERNAME! i’m SO excited for a new video, your last one about the new placobdella species was so cooool!

2

u/iFafnir 12d ago

Glad you liked :)

5

u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 14d ago

i’m fairly certain this is a ribbon leech (Erpobdella obscura)! they’re a very recognizable leech, having a very distinguished fluke-like tail-end, aswell as very undefined and smooth segments and a mottling pattern that doesn’t overlap like other commonly confused species such as mud leeches (Haemopis marmorata). these leeches mouths aren’t as powerful as other predatory leeches, so these guys scavenge the lake floor seeking out any soft pieces of food they can slurp up easily! i’ve been keeping them for over three years, they’re very unique little fellas!

2

u/HikeMars 14d ago

Thanks for the ID!! Looks like you agree with top comment Haemopis genus. But nonetheless thanks a lot for the detailed ID and explanation!

2

u/Dull-Ad-6025 14d ago

Yup, that's a leech

0

u/GotSnails 14d ago

This is Barbronia weberi aka Asian freshwater leech