leech: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	Hirudinea

Photos

European medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis).

Head of the giant Amazon leech (Haementeria ghilianii). The retractable proboscis is used to pierce the skin and suck blood from the host.

anatomy of the European medicinal leech

A medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, with a dark, striped body, is attached to human skin.

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Topics

Arhynchobdellida land leech marine leech Acanthobdellida Branchiobdellida Rhynchobdellida medicinal leech Pontobdella Limnatis nilotica Acanthobdella oligochaete polychaete

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