Facts and Myths about Sucking Leeches

Facts and Myths about Sucking Leeches

Black like a caterpillar, but an excellent swimmer, once it bites, it’s hard to get free. Yes, that’s the leech. This animal, which belongs to the phylum Annelida, can live on land or in water. This carnivorous creature feeds on snails, worms, or insect larvae.

Leeches are animals that belong to the phylum Annelida. Also known as pacet, these creatures can live on land, in the sea, or in freshwater and have some interesting facts. They are classified as carnivores. Some of them are predators that obtain their food from invertebrates such as snails, worms, or insect larvae.

The distinction between leeches and pacet is not based on taxonomy but rather on their habitat. Pacet are often found out of the water, clinging to leaves or tree trunks.

In marsh, sea, pond, and other watery habitats, there are about 650 species of leeches. Each leech has both male and female reproductive organs. However, leeches cannot reproduce on their own; they need to mate with another leech to breed.

Some leeches have suction organs that they use to suck fluids out. These suction organs are located at the end of their bodies and are used to hold onto a host while feeding.

Here are some unique facts about leeches that you might find interesting:

  • There are approximately 650 species of leeches.
  • The largest leech discovered measures 18 inches.
  • About one-fifth of leech species live in marine environments.
  • The Hirudo species of leech gives birth to young ones in cocoons.
  • Leeches carry their young on their bellies.
  • Sometimes the number of young can reach up to 300.
  • Leeches have 32 brains.
  • A leech's bite is painless because it contains anesthetic substances.
  • Not all leeches suck blood; some hunt earthworms and others.
  • Hirudo leeches inject anticoagulant serum into their prey to prevent blood clotting.
  • Leeches can survive even after losing 90% of their body weight.
  • Amazon leeches use a different method to suck blood; they insert a long proboscis into the victim's body without biting.
  • A leech can expand up to five times its body weight.
  • After feeding, a leech will swell and fall off its host on its own.
  • In ancient times, people would stand on the shores of lakes. If leeches approached their legs, they would catch them to sell. Today, Hirudo leeches are an endangered species.
  • The first use of leeches for medicinal purposes dates back to around 1000 BC, during ancient Indian times.
  • The nervous system of a leech has many similarities to the human nervous system, which is useful for research on human nerves.
  • The closest relatives of leeches are earthworms.
  • Surgeons in ancient times were craftsmen who used leeches to cure various ailments, from headaches to gout.
  • Leeches have the ability to bite through the thick skin of a hippopotamus.
  • Although leeches are disliked by humans, they are often used for health therapy known as Hirudo Medicinalis therapy, utilized since the 18th century.

Research in Europe shows that leech therapy, combined with herbal or chemical treatments, can enhance the effectiveness of medications. To date, there are no records of losses or negative effects from leech therapy.

The fact is that leech therapy can be used to stabilize serotonin levels, which helps improve blood and oxygen circulation in the head. (TY/RED).

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