Subterranean Leeches?

[Bongmaster]

I read an article recently about the world’s deepest subterranean vertical drop. The article goes on to mention:

At the foot of the Velebit cave are small ponds and streams, including one of the largest known colonies of subterranean leeches, Sutlovic Baksic said.

Subterranean leeches? I have to assume that at that depth in a cave there aren’t many larger living creatures that a leech might use as a food source. How do they survive down there?

[stpauler]

WEll, according to this:

Annelida Leeches (Hirudimea) Leeches are generally pollution tolerant, however, some species of leeches are much less pollution tolerant than others (Pennak 1989; Peckarsky et al. 1990). Leeches are found in warm water of shallow standing water (Peckarsky et al. 1990). They generally can not tolerate very acidic waters. They are also limited by low calcium content (Pennak 1989). Siltation does prevent leeches from attaching to stones or other objects. Leeches feed on dead organic matter, snails, insects, oligochaetes, and other small invertebrates (Pennak 1989).

Here’s the article from CNN

At the foot of the Velebit cave are small ponds and streams, including one of the largest known colonies of subterranean leeches, Sutlovic Baksic said.

Much of the rugged area remains untouched, and scientific expeditions over its vast expanse covered by rare flora and fauna have been ongoing for years.

[stpauler]

Bah! Posted too quickly.

That post was just to say that there are some leeches that don’t just feed on the cast of Stand By Me. I’m not sure what kind of leeches are down in Croatia, but the idea of a colony does give me the heebie jeebies.

[Bongmaster]

@stpauler

Bah! Posted too quickly.

That post was just to say that there are some leeches that don’t just feed on the cast of Stand By Me. I’m not sure what kind of leeches are down in Croatia, but the idea of a colony does give me the heebie jeebies.

Yeah, that’s the first thing I thought of too. LEECHES!!! I’m surprised they can sustain themselves without sucking blood from live hosts…I thought that was why they were known as leeches. Thanks for the info!

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

Grade “B” 1950’s horror movie: Subterranian Leeches!