Japan Mountain Leech vs. Giant Earthworm
 |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
||
While hiking in rugged mountains of the Japan Southern Alps I happened upon a life and death struggle between a very large earthworm and an equally large Japanese Mountain Leech. This was my first leech encounter in Japan and at the time I knew little about this interesting animal. The Japanese Mountain Leech is called yama-biru in Japanese and is known scientifically as Haemadipsa zeylanica japonica. Mountain Leech are quite at home outside of water and are most often found within dark, moist forests. The animal is especially active during the monsoonal rainy season (when I took this video). Blood sucking leech will readily go after farmers and hikers and will eagerly pursue their prey using a strange form of locomotion in which they toss their bodies end over end in rapid pursuit. They can chew right through socks and are quite relentless in their efforts to get a blood meal. Leeches are even known to drop from trees upon unsuspecting passersby! While some Mountain Leech have mouths designed for sucking, others (like the leech in this video) must swallow their prey whole.
Channel: Travel & Events
Uploaded: December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm
Author: softypapa
Length: 03:22
Rating: 4.69
Views: 192055
Tags: earthworm fight Japan softypapa tokaido worm
Video Comments
|
James89B (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
Good video, thanks for that!
softypapa (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
Yes, there are bears in this area. Warning signs are found at the edges of most of the mountain villages cautioning people to watch out for bears. Wild boar are also present which can be dangerous if surprised. -Kurt
7Row7enn7 (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
fry em' up and sprinkle with fresh ground garlic.
Alectr0n (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
Do they have bears there?
headofwords (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
Whereabouts were you in the Alps? I live in Nagano City in the middle there.
joebaker1164 (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
It looks like a stethoscope at first lol
Tiiggii (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
blahblahblah
Tiiggii (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
Balasiubvgzkugz ugkbsaluz liuzaiuewaehydlkjbdsylkjby Jalalawaka (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
Hahahaha I laughed my ass off at this comment.
colossusx7 (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)
uhh, thats a type of leech that swims up ur butt and lays eggs.. ur lucky he didint swim up u buttox! |