General Description

Body segmented, wide at the head and tapering to a narrow tail. Two suckers, one on the head and one on the tail. Body up to 5 cm long.

Biology

Many Freshwater Leeches eat whole invertebrates, but most suck blood from frogs, turtles, water birds and other aquatic animals. While each species has a preferred host, most will also feed on others. Some will attach to, and feed on, humans. They are all hermaphrodites and produce cocoons from which the young emerge. The suckers at either end of the leech are used for locomotion; the leech attaches the front sucker, which surrounds the mouth, pulls its body up and attaches the rear sucker then repeats. They can also swim by undulating the whole body. One European species is used medically to encourage blood flow after microsurgeries.

Distribution

Worldwide. Mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

Rivers and lakes.

More Information

  • Animal Type

    Other freshwater invertebrates

  • Animal SubType

    Leeches

  • Brief Id

    Segmented body, wide head and narrow tail, suckers on head and tail.

  • Diet

    Carnivore

  • Diet Categories

    Invertebrates

  • Hazards

    Bites could become infected from gut bacteria but are mostly just irritating and itchy. Bleeding is minor though may continue for several hours.

  • Endemicity

    Recorded in Australia

  • Taxon Name

    Hirudinea

  • Common Name

    Freshwater Leech

  • Phylum

    Annelida

  • Class

    Hirudinida

  • Subclass

    Hirudinea