Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented bodies that can lengthen and contract.

2025年2月1日 · leech, (subclass Hirudinea), any of about 650 species of segmented worms (phylum Annelida) characterized by a small sucker, which contains the mouth, at the anterior end of the body and a large sucker located at the posterior end. All leeches have 34 body segments.

2025年3月5日 · Annelid - Leech, Parasitic, Bloodsucking: Leeches are segmented worms characterized by a small sucker at the anterior end of the body and a large sucker at the posterior end; the medicinal use of leeches, which dates from antiquity, reached its peak in the first half of the 19th century.

It is not a leech, it is a flatworm, probably in the family Geoplanidae. Doh! We missed that identification by a whole PHYLUM of life – Leeches are in the Phylum Annelida, the phylum of segmented worms, including your friendly neighborhood earthworms. Take a look at the pictures of Jason’s flatworm again – no repeating muscular segments ...

Leeches are segmented worms in the Subclass Hirudinea that are usually ectoparasitic. They belong to the Class Clitellata (along with earthworms, Subclass Oligochaeta) because of the presence of a clitellum, which is a swelling towards the …

Leeches are soft-bodied, elongated invertebrates with a segmented structure, similar to earthworms, but with distinct differences. While most leeches are freshwater organisms, they can also be found in terrestrial and marine environments.

What's the difference between Earthworm and Leech? Earthworms are big segmented worms that belong to the Phylum Annelida, Class Clitellata, and sub class Oligochaeta. Leeches are also worms belonging to the same Phylum and class, but sub class Hirudinae and are of three types, freshwater, terrestrial and m...

Leeches are probably the most well known denizens of tropical/subtropical rainforests worldwide, and no description of a rainforest would be complete without mentioning them. These bloodsuckers are segmented worms (Annelida) and related to earthworms. They are present all over the world but especially ubiquitous in the tropical zone.

Most leeches (annelid class Hirudinea) are bloodsucking parasites that attach themselves to vertebrate hosts, bite through the skin, and suck out a quantity of blood. Other than the nuisance effect of their biting, their medical significance is generally minimal.

Leeches move by either an undulating swimming motion (eel-like) or by an “inch-worm” like crawling motion using the anterior and posterior suckers. The posterior sucker is attached to a substrate and the leech stretches out and attaches to the substrate with the anterior sucker, the posterior sucker is then detached and pulled up to the ...