Giant green leech (Raksasa hijau)

Giant green leech (Raksasa hijau) is a species belonging to the family Salifidae. It is a large, green or black, carnivorous leech—not a blood-feeder (hematophage)—that can grow to a length of over 50 cm. Its anterior (front) section is perfectly cylindrical, while the body becomes progressively larger, wider, and flatter toward the posterior (rear) end.

At the anterior end is a white-colored mouth, with a width equal to the diameter of the front of the body. The posterior end houses the anus and is similarly as wide as the diameter of the rear of the body.





The dorsal (upper) surface is entirely dark green—ranging from leaf-green to black—with a glossy appearance and no other color patterns. The ventral (lower) surface is lighter in color, appearing as a brownish-green. The skin is wrinkled, forming dense, elastic folds that allow the body to stretch and elongate.

This species moves forward by extending its anterior end toward a distant point; the middle of the body follows, and the posterior section gradually advances until the entire animal has shifted its position.

These animals do not feed on blood; instead, they swallow their prey whole. They inhabit the ground surface among leaf litter—often at a considerable distance from standing water—in environments that remain damp and dew-laden. This species actively hunts for prey, primarily earthworms.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Subclass: Hirudinea
Infraclass: Euhirudinea
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Suborder: Erpobdelliformes
Family: Salifidae
Genus: Raksasa
Species: Raksasa hijau

VERNACULAR NAME

English: Giant green leech
Indonesia: Lintah raksasa
Java: Lintah kebo, Lintah raseksa

Aryo Bandoro
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