I caught a leech, and then it caught me. Sticky puddle and its rich inner world

This time I came across a bunch of common newts in various stages of mating attire. They acquire a beautiful openwork border, spots and bright coloring of the tail only in the spring to impress the females. Females also look very modest, merging with the background of the reservoir, so that they are not noticed by predators.
And a leech! Wow, parasites!
As a child, I was afraid of them to the point of trembling and refused to go into the pond if I saw at least one. What was my despair when I found them in my favorite puddles, where I constantly swarmed barefoot. But then I was shown medical leeches, explained the difference from "horse leeches" and convinced that "horse leeches" do not bite people, even children.
In fact, these are not horse leeches. These are false-Horse leeches. In the video, a large false-horse leech.
Horse leeches are not found in Central Russia. They are found in some places in the Caucasus. They can't bite through the skin either, but they can cling to the horse's mouth and bite through the mucosa and drink blood.
But False horses leeches dangerous only for small animals, most often invertebrates. They also willingly eat other leeches. Moreover, they not only suck blood, but also swallow the prey whole or tear off pieces from it. They themselves, in turn, are eaten a lot by other animals: predatory fish, birds, muskrats. And some fans keep them in aquariums. Interesting animals, these leeches.
#Zubrastrip #adventure #wildlife