I thought these were leeches when I gathered them from the mud, but I don't think so any more. They appear segmented, but the posterior segments are elongated and seem less flexible than the other segments. I had them in a full jar of water, but they became frantic, and their posterior segments all had air bubbles around them. They kept poking their posterior segments up, reaching for the surface of the water. I had seen them doing that in the puddle from which I gathered them, which was only an inch or so deep - just a remnant of the Mississippi River's flooding earlier this year.
So, they seem to live in silty water but may require air for breathing, which made the annelid diagnosis seem off (though I'm not knowledgeable). I was wondering if perhaps they are large, semi-aquatic pupae?
Any suggestions are welcomed; I've been fruitlessly looking through Google Images. I would be happy to send extra pics or video upon request. Thanks for your help!
