Doc#: ARTEFACT-RECORD-338
Clearance: CLASSIFIED

Name: Filumvermis (Standard)
Also Known As: Lockleech, Hairy Bloodworm, Braidworm, Skull Sucker
Identification Number: C1-0631
Domain: 5
Threat Level: 2
Procurement Status: Acquired

Description:
The leech body is approximately 1-3 cm wide and 5-8 cm long. Its demis is rubbery and slick and ranges in colour from dark brown to black. Its underside has a line of small suckers that act as both mouth and suctioning apparatus. Its top side is hairy with colour and texture variations spanning the full human hair spectrum. Terminal hair length differs leech to leech, ranging from a few mm up to 80cm.

Filumvermis produces an anesthetic anticoagulating slime that allows it to attach painlessly to its chosen food source. The slime can cause a rash and develop into sores with prolonged exposure, though, due to the anesthetic, pain will not present until approximately 1-3 hours after leech removal.

Behaviour:
Found within stagnant shallow water, Filumvermis is an opportunistic hunter of stealth that attaches to unsuspecting live hosts. Filumvermis uses its slime to numb the host’s skin and move undetected up to the cranium. Here, it will latch on more deeply, breaking the skin and attaching to the bloodstream. Though it has been spotted feeding from a variety of mammals, its preferred food source is humans, as is reflected in its camouflage. Filumvermis will choose a host with a similar hair texture, allowing it to blend seamlessly and go undetected as it feeds. After approximately 20 ml of blood has been consumed, the leech will drop off and crawl to the nearest body of water to digest and wait for its next meal.

Anomalous Features:
N/A

Preservation Protocol:
Store in a clear polycarbonate box with dimensions of approximately 15 cm (w) x 15 cm (l) x 30 cm (h). The box’s lid should have a rubber seal and a secure latch with padlock. Regularly spaced air holes with a maximum width of 2 mm should be drilled into the top of the box. The interior should have a base layer of iron-rich soil 5 cm thick submerged in 1.5 litres of water procured from the artefact’s originating environment.

Clearance Level for access should be set at ACROAMATIC.

Other Notes:
Forcible removal of Filumvermis IS NOT recommended. If removed before a completed feed cycle, Filumvermis will inject a concentrated form of its anaesthetic in an attempt to stop the host from struggling. In this form, the substance causes paralysis of the muscles and internal organs, usually resulting in death from cardiac arrest. For this reason, antivenom is required for Domain 5 excursions.

Further Reading:

N/A