Cut-throat Leech

Not a new species, just a new attack approach.

This Leech obviously thought attacking my ankles and shins was too "boring". He certainly got me by the Jugular (or close to it, anyway).

I had blood dripping onto my fingers, and didn't know where it was coming from.

I went to the bathroom mirror and saw my throat bleeding.

Then I saw a Leech buried amongst my silvery beard.

Of course I then did what they always tell you not to do, which is just "rip it off". (Don't do that folks) Better to apply salt (very difficult on one's own throat), or try rubbing it with Tea tree Oil or Eucalyptus Oil. They don't like it, and release themselves, sealing the wound before they leave, with a little injection of anti-coagulant. (DJW EDIT: Wrong, I meant coagulant - see note at end, and Martin's comment)

Eventually I was successful in ripping the Leech off, but then I realised I was in for more trouble, because I had 'attacked it" not persuaded it to "release itself - in a sensible manner".

The Leech had not "released itself" properly, which involves injecting the anti-coagulant juices they normally use, to prevent their host" (me) bleeding, after they have left off drinking. (Same silly mistake as above - see notes below, and Martin's comment)

Consequently, a few minutes later, after disposing of the Leech, I looked again, and this is what I saw. Blood was literally running down my throat.

My chin is held high, and the rest is throat, 

and the neck of my jumper is just visible.

 It is very hard photographing one's own throat (using a flash).

Eventually I got one image which more or less worked.

For reference purposes, I must have picked up this little hitch-hiking parasite when I had visited a Melaleuca thicket half-way down along Belmore Falls Road. This is a wet creek-bed, but I have never had leech problems there, before. I expect them in the Robertson Rain Forest, but not in the sandstone-based Eucalypt forest (through which this narrow strip of Melaleuca trees, and the creek, runs).


And this occurred on 2 July - close to mid-winter.
I blame Global Warming for this unseasonal attack.

Should I blame the Carbon Tax as well?

Everyone else seems to do equally strange things.

For the record, re this anti-coagulant vs coagulant business, I do know what the Leeches do to facilitate their drinking of my blood, and afterwards:

I wrote the following on Facebook, yesterday, in answer to a question:

• Leeches are brilliant chemical engineers.
  The Pharmacists have tried to copy their chemicals.
  They inject a pain killer firstly - so you don't notice them starting to suck.
  Then they inject an anti-coagulant, so the blood flows freely.
  Then when they are ready to leave, they inject an opposite chemical, a clotting agent, a coagulant, so the host (me in this case) does not bleed to death (afterwards).
  However, if you disturb them, sometimes they do not get to inject the clotting agent.

My problem was that I wrote this post too quickly, prior to going to Tuesday Night Trivia at Three Creeks Cafe. I tried to short-cut the explanation and got it wrong. Sorry everybody.
Thanks Martin for correcting me.