Many leech species are nocturnal, this helps them avoid predators and locate resting prey. Most leeches hide while resting, staying in thick plant growth or hiding in mud. What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten? They are predators, eating worms, snails, aquatic insects, and other invertebrates. There are also lots of leech species that don't suck blood. Many blood-feeding leeches attack only fish, a few attack any vertebrate (including people), and a few are specialists on another group of animals, like turtles or waterbirds. The species that feed on blood have special chemicals in their saliva that prevents blood-clotting. They communicate with other leeches chemically, and by touch. They cannot hear, but are sometimes very sensitive to vibrations. Leeches have very poor vision (often they can only tell the strength of light), but are very sensitive to touch. When they first detect food, they extend their bodies and hold very still, probably to carefully sense their prey. They search for prey by following the scent or touch of the animals they want to eat. How do they behave?Īll leeches can crawl, and some are good swimmers. Some leeches complete their life cycle in a few months, but many can live for several years. Most species can mature in a few weeks or months if conditions are good. Leech growth rate is strongly affected by temperature and food supply. Leeches that live in habitats that freeze or dry out during part of the year bury themselves in mud and stay dormant until the habitat improves. They don't change much as they grow, they just get bigger. Leeches lay eggs in cocoons, and the babies that hatch out look and behave like little adults. These animals are found in the following types of habitat.Most leech species are found in shallow, slow-moving freshwater, but some live in the oceans, and a few live in moist soil on land. In Michigan there are at least 40 species, and probably more. Leeches are found all over the world, and there are hundreds of species. Predatory species may have teeth, or may have only crushing jaws. Leech species that suck blood have sharp teeth. Many leech species have one or more pairs of eyes visible on the top of their front end. The smallest leeches grow no more than 5 mm, but some big species may get to be more than 25 cm long. Some species have no markings, others have spots and stripes. They are usually dark colored, often brown or sometimes black or dark green. Their bodies are flattened, much wider than they are thick. Leeches are segmented worms with suction cups at each end.
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