Leeches (Hirudinea)
| Life history | Leeches mate in the spring. Some types of leeches put their eggs in a cocoon and deposit them; others carry their eggs on their body. Most leeches are dormant, buried in the sediment, during the winter. |
|---|---|
| Diversity | There are about 8 different families in North America. |
| Distinguishing characteristics |
Flat bodied with suckers at both ends of the body; the body is divided into 34 segments. |
| Habitat & Feeding | Freshwater leeches live in lakes, ponds, springs, streams, or marshes. They can be sanguivorous (eat blood), predators, or parasites. |
| Water quality indicator status | Some kinds of freshwater leeches can tolerate pollution, however they are rarely found in fine sediments because they cannot attach their bodies to the surface. An abundance of leeches at a stream site may indicate some kind of pollution stress. |
| Fun facts |
|