Facts about Leeches

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• Leeches are segmented worms that belong to the phylum Annelida - subclass Hirudinea. 

• Recognized 700 species: most of them are freshwater animals

• Hermaphrodites

• Two suckers. Front sucker had  three jaws and almost 300 chitin teeth

• Five pairs of eyes

• 32 segments

• Leech size varies among families and can reach up to 20 cm in length

• Don't eat often. Can leave up to a year without food

• Sucks the blood in a volume 5-15 ml. It is about tablespoon of blood.

• Only few types of leeches considered as medical tools like European medicinal leech species, Hirudo medicinalis. hirudinaria manillensis, hirudo  nipponi, hirudo verbena, hirudo orientalis, and haementeria depressa

• The salivary glands of leeches contain over hundred highly active biological substances - special enzymes that have the properties of preventing  thrombus formation, interstitial improve metabolism, help get rid the body toxins, prevent aging of the tissues.