Kinabalu giant red leech

Taxobox
name = Kinabalu giant red leech

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = A large example of the Kinabalu giant red leech. Mount Kinabalu, Borneo.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Annelida
classis = Hirudinea
ordo = Arhynchobdellida
familia = Erpobdellidae
genus = "Mimobdella"
species = "M. buettikoferi"
binomial = "Mimobdella buettikoferi"
binomial_authority = Blanchard, 1897

The Kinabalu giant red leech is a large (≤30 cm long) bright orange-red coloured leech that is endemic to Mount Kinabalu, Borneo. Very little is known about this animal although it has been identified as "Mimobdella buettikoferi" Blanchard, 1897.Fact|date=January 2008

The Kinabalu leech is not hematophagic and feeds only on worms such as the Kinabalu giant earthworm, "Pheretima darnleiensis" [Blakemore, R.J., C. Csuzdi, M.T. Ito, N. Kaneko, T. Kawaguchi & M. Schilthuizen 2007. PDFlink| [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/z01613p044f.pdf Taxonomic status and ecology of Oriental "Pheretima darnleiensis" (Fletcher, 1886) and other earthworms (Oligochaeta : Megascolecidae) from Mt Kinabalu, Borneo.] |16.4 KiB "Zootaxa" 1613: 23–44.] . It lives in damp earth and leaves in cracks between the rocks and can be found in Kinabalu Park at an altitude of 2,500-3,000 m where the trail runs over a rocky outcrop near to the Mempening and Paka Cave shelters. It is usually seen during or after heavy downpours.Phillipps, A. & F. Liew 2000. "Globetrotter Visitor's Guide – Kinabalu Park". New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.]

References

External links

* [http://www.endemicguides.com/Giant_Leech.htm The giant leech and giant worm in Kinabalu Park, Borneo, Malaysia]