SPECIES ID / Invertebrates
Leeches
• 69 species in North America
• Tolerant of low dissolved oxygen
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Hirudinea |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Identification Tips:
Range from 4 mm to 10 cm or more
• Muscular soft body composed of 34 segments
• Body flattened from top to bottom
• Two suckers, one on each end of body on bottom surface
• Mouth is within front sucker
• Anus is just in front of rear sucker
• Move in looping motion or swim
Life History:
• Most common in quiet water
• Avoid fine sediment bottoms
• Feed on body fluids of other animals including insect larvae, aquatic earthworms, snails, other leeches or vertebrates• .
| POLLUTION TOLERANCE | ||||
| Very Sensitive | Somewhat Sensitive | Facultative | Somewhat Tolerant | Very Tolerant |
| Most | ||||
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Primary Information Source:
Voshell, J. Reese. 2002. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company. Blacksburg, Virginia.
