Leech

Leech

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Clitellata

Subclass: Hirudinea

Leeches get a bad rap sometimes but they are so cool! This diverse group include species that can be carnivores or detritivores, but most are parasites that feed on other animals. The parasitic leeches will attach to its host (which can be anything from other leeches to fish to mammals depending on the species of leech) using suckers before pressing its mouth up to the animal’s skin. It then actually releases an anesthetic as it makes its incision in the skin so that the host can’t feel it feeding. These two photos are of two different leech species.