Name an annelid that sucks blood from its host.
GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
Leech (genus Hirudo, particularly Hirudo medicinalis—the medicinal leech) is an annelid that feeds on blood. Leeches belong to class Hirudinea within phylum Annelida. Key characteristics include:
- Ectoparasitic: Attach externally to hosts
- Specialized suckers: Anterior and posterior suckers for attachment
- Anticoagulant secretion: Produce hirudin, preventing blood clotting during feeding
- Medical use: Historically used in bloodletting; modern medical applications in microsurgery for improving blood circulation
While leeches are best known as blood-feeders, not all species are parasitic—some are predators of small invertebrates. Blood-feeding leeches can consume several times their body weight in a single feeding.
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