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Leeches: Hirudinea

Physical Characteristics, Habitat, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Leeches And People, North American Medicinal Leech (macrobdella Decora): Species AccountsGEOGRAPHIC RANGE, CONSERVATION STATUS



NORTH AMERICAN MEDICINAL LEECH (Macrobdella decora): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
GIANT AMAZONIAN LEECH (Haementeria ghilianii): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Leeches live on all continents except Antarctica.


One species of leech, the European medicinal leech, is listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as Lower Risk, or at risk of becoming threatened with extinction in the future. They are threatened due to habitat loss and over-collecting. Other species with limited distributions may also be threatened.



Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMollusks, Crustaceans, and Related Species