Leeches On Green Leaves.animals,fauna,macro Photography Stock Image

Leeches are a group of animals in the segmented worm family (Annelida) which have a flat body and have blood-sucking devices at the end of their heads and tails. About three-quarters of leech species live as parasites that suck the blood of their hosts, while the rest are predators. Taxonomically, these animals are grouped as a subclass Hirudinea. These animals are related to Oligocheata (such as earthworms) which both have a soft body, are muscular, segmented, can be shortened and elongated, have a clitellum, and are hermaphrodites. Leeches are distinguished from their relatives by their two suckers, and by the mismatch between their outer body rings and their inner body segments. The body is muscular and relatively solid. Unlike other annelids which have a large coelom (body cavity), the coelom of leeches has turned into small canals.