Name

Clitellata

leech, bloodsucker

Framing

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Clitellata

Habitat

Aquatic (mostly freshwater, some marine) and terrestrial (in humid environments). Free-living or ectoparasites (on the body or cavities) of vertebrates.

Feeding

Predator of invertebrates, necrophagous or hematophagous of vertebrates

Distribution

Cosmopolitan

Conservation status

Hirudo medicinalis is included in the Habitat Directive (Annex VI) and in the Bern Convention (Appendix III) as an endangered species in Europe. In Andalusia this species is cataloged in the Red Book of Invertebrates of Andalusia as threatened with insufficient data category. Near Threatened category on the IUCN Red List of Treated Species

Additional information

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