Rhynchobdellida
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Rhynchobdellida (from the Greek rhynchos, mouth, and bdellein, sucking),[1] the jawless leechesScript error: No such module "Unsubst". or freshwater leeches,[2] are an order of aquatic leeches.[3][4] Despite the common name "freshwater leeches", species are found in both sea and fresh water. They are defined by the presence of a protrusible proboscis instead of jaws, and having colourless blood.[5][6][7] They move by "inchworming"[8] and are found worldwide. The order contains 110 species, divided into 41 genera and three families.[8] Members of the order range widely in length, usually between 7 and 40 mm.[2] They are hermaphrodite.[2] The order is not monophyletic.[9]
Appearance and eating habits
Instead of jaws and teeth, Rhynchobdellidae have protrusible proboscises, which they use to penetrate the host's skin.[2][10] Mouths of Rhynchobdellidae species are small holes from which the proboscis can be protruded.[10] The proboscis then sucks out the desired bodily fluid from the host: usually blood or coelomic fluid in the case of invertebrate victims.[9]
Rhynchobdellidae are either sanguivorous or predatory.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Sanguivorous species usually feed on a variety of other animals, using their proboscis to host's skin. They generate anticoagulants (like mosquitoes) and natural anaesthesia to help the feeding.[2] Predatory Rhynchobdellidae have digestive enzymes that help break down their prey, which usually consists of small invertebrates such as insect larvae or amphipods.[2]
Families
Glossiphoniidae (Freshwater jawless leeches)
The Glossiphoniidae, the freshwater jawless leeches,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". or leaf leeches (due to their shape)[11] are freshwater leeches, flattened, and with a poorly defined anterior sucker.[2] The family Glossiphoniidae contains one of the world's largest species of leech, the giant Amazon leech, which can grow up to 45 cm in length.[12] Many species show extended parental care, keeping eggs in nests or pouches and caring for and feeding the young.[2][13] They feed on both vertebrate and invertebrate animals.[4]
Piscicolidae (Fish leeches)
The Piscicolidae occur in both freshwater and seawater, have cylindrical bodies, and a usually well-marked, bell-shaped, anterior sucker.[2][4] They are parasites of fish.[11][4] The family was originally divided into three subfamilies based on species' pulsatile vesicles, but the subfamilies were disbanded in 2006.[4]
Ozobranchidae (Turtle leeches)
Ozobranchidae are primarily parasitic on marine turtles, and are sometimes merged with the Piscicolidae.[2][4]
See also
References
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