|
WETLANDS - LEECHES |
|
| Leeches are flattened, segmented water worms that live in still, warm waters of the pond. They have two suckers, one at each end of their bodies. Most are parasites. That means that they attach themselves to other animals and live by sucking bodily fluids, usually blood, from their host. They can cause illness or death to their victim through loss of blood or bodily fluids. Death can also be caused by infection from bacteria either from the leeches' body or, more usually, the water that gets into the wound through which the leech feeds. |
|
| Many leeches attack other worms or snails and digest away the muscle instead of the body fluids. Some leeches are predators and eat small larvae and worms. Some leeches are both predators and parasites. They eat snail meat sometimes and then suck turtle or frog blood other times. |
|
