Leech life5/28/2023 ![]() Some leeches cause damage to fish by sucking their blood, and this can cause the fish to get sick or weak. Pond and fish keepers, however, must be careful to use the right type of leech. They are an important food source, and they clean up the waste from dead animals. They are an important part of pond ecosystems, and some people who keep natural ponds in their gardens put leeches in them for this reason. Their saliva includes an anticoagulant, which keeps the blood of their prey flowing when they bite, and an anesthetic, which prevents their prey from feeling the bite. They prey on insects and small aquatic animals, and they also suck blood from fish and warm-blooded animals. They don’t form complex societies, but they can usually be found in groups together. They move slowly through the water in search of food. Marine fish leech or a piscicolid leech, Malmiana virgata on a Yellowfin sole from the Eastern Bering Sea. The largest leech species is the giant Amazon leech ( Haementeria ghilianii), which can grow 18 inches long and 4 inches wide. Leeches vary in size, but a typical one is 2 inches long. The leech’s body is usually a dark, greenish-brown color with no spots or stripes. See all of our entertaining and insightful animal articles. What Types of Snakes Live in Yellowstone National Park?.Discover the Largest Fish in the Great Lakes (Up to 300 Pounds!).The 5 Best Lakes in California for Swimming.The 5 Best Fish to Catch in Kentucky this Summer.9 Black Snakes in Ohio: Not One is Venomous!.The small size of these teeth is part of the reason you can’t feel a leech bite. The leech uses its suction cups to attach itself to the skin of an animal and suck its blood.Ī leech typically has two or three rows of tiny teeth. ![]() It has a solid, segmented body with tapered endings that include a pair of suckers at each end. Leech AppearanceĪ leech looks like a fat, dark and glossy earthworm. Hirudin is a naturally occurring peptide in the salivary glands of bloodsucking leeches that prevents blood clotting. The scientific name comes from the word hirudin. They are invertebrates who are members of the Annelida phylum, which is the phylum that includes earthworms. Land-dwelling leeches usually live on the banks of ponds and lakes. Of these, 100 are saltwater fishes, 480 are freshwater and the rest live on land. There are over 680 different species of leeches. The leech’s scientific name is Hirudinea.
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