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Leeches are annelids comprising the subclass Hirudinea. There are freshwater, terrestrial, and marine leeches. Like the Oligochaeta, they share the presence of a clitellum. Like earthworms, leeches are hermaphrodites. Some, but not all, leeches are hematophagous.
Haemophagic leeches attach to their hosts and remain there until they become full, at which point they fall off to digest. A leech's body is 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 also release an anesthetic to prevent the host from feeling the leech. 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, hirudin, into the host's blood stream.
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Are leeches aggressive?
Leeches are generally aggresive because of their carnivorous behavior.
Do leeches damage plants?
Leeches generally do not damage plants as they primarily feed on blood from animals, including humans. They are not known to consume plant material or harm vegetation directly. However, in aquatic environments, they can potentially impact the health of certain animals that may affect plant ecosystems indirectly. Overall, leeches are more of a concern for animals than for plants.
What attracts leeches?
Leeches are attracted to warmth, movement, and the carbon dioxide released by animals or humans. They can also be attracted to vibrations in the water caused by potential hosts swimming or wading.
What are maggots and leeches?
maggots are baby flies leeches live off blood from animals
How do leeches obtain energy?
humans
Do humans get herpes by leeches?
In most cases humans get herpes from contact with other humans rather than from contact with leeches. It is technically possible for the virus to be transmitted by a leech, but it is extremely uncommon.
What type of animals eats leeches?
Leeches are flat worm-like animals found in ponds and lakes. To keep leeches under control in a water setting, it is important to have fish around that will eat the leeches. Redear sunfish are good leech eaters.
What animals use mutualism in lakes?
leeches
What animals are annelid worms?
Earthworms and leeches.
Which of the three classes of annelids has suckers as an adaptation to it's way of life?
Leeches are the class of annelids that has suckers. They use these to suck the blood out of humans and animals in order for them to survive.
What animals eat crayfish snails leeches and clams?
You
What animals do leeches feast off of?
people and animals blood
