Leech or Slug?

[Dangerdoll]

My sister found this on the bottom of her pond. She is not sure what it is. She is in NJ. Anyone know if it is a leech or freshwater slug? If so, do you know what kind?

I had one person say it was a fw slug and more reliably someone said leech...

 

[OrionGirl]

Leech. There's only one species of FW slug. They have prominent eye stalks, while leeches do not.

 

[authmal]

That apparently flattened cross section says "leech" to me. While I've seen leeches move across land, I haven't seen freshwater slugs do the same. That said, there aren't many freshwater slugs here in the desert, and few places where you can find leeches.

I didn't consider the absence of eyestalks, but yeah, that is an easy characteristic to spot.

 

[Dangerdoll]

thanks guys! With some outside help, I was able to pinpoint the exact term for it.... Placobdella papillifera.

 

[Star_Rider]

nice leech.. looks like it was a bigun'

 

[Dangerdoll]

Ha! It was pretty big.... My sister has since removed it from her pond


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