LEECHES

Although fresh-water leeches are common, species have been discovered more recently in both moist terrestrial and marine habitats. A most distinctive feature is the formidable suckers! The anterior sucker surrounds the mouth, and toward the posterior is a ventrally placed one. Some leeches use these suckers to move in “inchworm” fashion. Many leeches are free-living predators, some are scavengers and others are parasites.