11005-10913 New Zealand 'Tiger' leech (Richardsonianus mauianus) is one of the few freshwater, blood-sucking leeches native to New Zealand. It is larger than the more common glossiphoniids, and is easily recognised by its longitudinal stripes. Richardsonianus is occasionally found in Northern lakes, ponds and slow flowing weedy streams. They are blood suckers, and will latch on to the bare legs of humans wading in their habitats. Gordonton, Waikato *
11005-10902 Open Bay Island leech (Hirudobdella antipodium) adult on damp rock. There are three known species of these large terrestrial leeches, which feed on the blood of seabirds, particularly penguins and shearwaters. All are now endangered, and confined to rat-free offshore islands. Photographed April 1996, on Taumaka Island *
11005-10905 Open Bay Island leech (Hirudobdella antipodium) adult, 'nestled' into the webbing on the foot of a little blue penguin after dark. This is the typical feeding position adopted by these rare native leeches, and you can see other scars characteristic of previous feeding sessions. Such scars, usually near the webbing, are indicative of the presence of leeches in seabird colonies on rat-free islands. Photographed April 1996, on Taumaka Island *
