The Taumaka leech has adapted to prey on the feet of seabirds, such as fairy prions and Fiordland crested penguins and may even feed on fur seals outside of the seabird breeding season. A very small minority of leech species are predatory, mostly preying on other small invertebrates. Their specially designed bodies can ingest many times their weight in blood, which means they can last several months between meals. In general, leeches use these suckers to attach and feed off an animal host and when their crop (a muscular pouch in the throat designed for holding food) is filled with blood they will detach and continue on their way. These islands are also home to unique flora such as the coastal cress Lepidium naufragorum of which Open Bay’s two main islands Taumaka and Popotai are the last remaining stronghold for this coastal species. Nestled in the rocks and trees here are abundant tree weta (taipo), South Island fernbird (mātātā), the rare Taumaka skink and the undescribed Open Bay Islands gecko while the waters around the islands are frequented by native sea life such as the endangered Hector’s dolphin, and several whale and shark species – so you can see what a special place this is. The beautiful Open Bay Islands are a breeding site for New Zealand fur seals (kekeno), Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki), fairy prions, sooty shearwaters and spotted shags (pārekareka). Taumaka and Popotai Islands are the two main islands, along with several small islets that are all under the ownership of the Poutini Ngai Tahu iwi. These leeches are known from just one location on Earth - a small island group off the south-west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, known as the Open Bay Islands. Although terrestrial leeches like these live on land and not in freshwater, they still require a damp environment to keep their skin moist. This is the Taumaka leech ( Hirudobdella antipodium) which spends most of its time hiding out in a deep, dark, and dank seabird burrow.
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