2006-11-20 03:53:46 · 3 answers · asked by dineshkumar t 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
A leech is an invertebrate that usually feeds on the blood of other animals.
Excerpt from Wikipedia... Leeches are annelids comprising the subclass Hirudinea. There are fresh water, terrestrial and marine leeches. Like their near relatives, the Oligochaeta, they share the presence of a clitellum. Like earthworms, leeches are hermaphrodites. The medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, which is native to Europe, and its congeners have been used for clinical bloodletting for thousands of years.
All leech species are carnivorous. Some are predatory, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as worms, snails, insect larvae, crustaceans, while a very few are haemophagic parasitic blood-sucking leeches, feeding on the blood of vertebrates such as amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl, fishes, and mammals (including humans). The most important predators on leeches are fishes, aquatic insects, crayfishes and other leeches specialized for predation on leeches.
Haemophagic leeches attach to their hosts and remain there until they become full, at which point they fall off to digest. Leeches' bodies are composed of 34 segments. They all have an anterior (oral) sucker formed from the first six segments of their body, which is used to connect to a host for feeding, and are known to release an anaesthetic to remain unnoticed by the host. They use a combination of mucus and suction (caused by concentric muscles in those six segments) to stay attached and secrete an anti-clotting enzyme into the host's blood stream.
Some species of leech will nurture their young, providing food, transport, and protection, which is unusual behavior in an invertebrate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leech
Here are some photos of leeches.... http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=leech&btnG=Search+Images
PS You are lucky that you have never met one LOL its really disconcerting to come out of a lake after swimming and have blood-sucking leeches stuck between your toes.... ewww!! They are not my favorite creature but I respect thier role in the world... I hate being thier lunch though.
2006-11-20 12:20:15 · answer #1 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leeches are hermaphrodites - they have both male and female reproductive organs. They suck blood from animals. Wikipedia has a very good article on it.
2006-11-20 04:56:11 · answer #2 · answered by Elephas Maximus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is called 'Jauk' in Hindi. It sucks blood. It is found in the garden. On moving, it leaves a slimy trail.
2006-11-20 04:01:19 · answer #3 · answered by yakkydoc 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋