Erpobdella mestrovi
Erpobdella mestrovi is a species of troglobitic leech found only in deep caves in Northern Velebit, part of the Dinaric Alps of Croatia. The leech was first found in Lukina jama in 1994, which at 1431 meters deep is the deepest cave in Croatia. The leech has been found in several other caves systems in Velebit such as Slovacka jama (-1320 m), Olimp (-531 m) and Velebita (-1026 m), and is currently considered endemic to Croatia.

This leech inhabits underground streams and has several adaptations to deal with a rheophilic and troglobitic lifestyle. The leech lacks eyes, has pale skin, and strong suckers to help it move around its environment. A flat body prevents it from being swept away by the current. The leech moves in a caterpillar-like motion, alternating between its posterior and oral sucker. There are several extremities protruding from the sides that are theorized to be gills. This leech grows about 25 to 40 mm (1 to 1.6 in) in length and can handle temperatures as low as 4 to 6 °C (39.2– 42.8 °F).
Q6644014
troglobitic
UNK
Q43012
leech
Concept
Q223275
Velebit
LOC
Q189915
Dinaric Alps
LOC
Q224
Croatia
LOC
Q7918880
Lukina jama
Concept
Q223275
Velebit
LOC
Q123452
endemic
Concept
Q483921
adaptation
Concept
Q2043348
rheophilic
UNK
Q6644014
troglobitic
UNK
Q2923890
suckers
UNK
Q11691663
Erpobdella mestrovi
Concept
1994-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1994
DATE
1431-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1431
DATE
-1320^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
-1320
NUMBER
-531^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
-531
NUMBER
-1026^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
-1026
NUMBER
+25^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
25
NUMBER
+40^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
40
NUMBER
+1^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1
NUMBER
+1.6^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1.6
NUMBER
+4^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
4
NUMBER
+6^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
6
NUMBER
+39.2^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
39.2
NUMBER
+42.8^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
42.8
NUMBER
mountain range
country
country