giant amazonian leech
Leeches are worms that are in the class Hirudinea. Like other members of the class, leeches are hermaphrodites, meaning having characteristics of both genders. Unlike other members of the phylum and class, leeches have two suckers, one at each end.
In most blood-sucking leeches, the digestive system starts with the jaws, three blades set at an angle to each other. While feeding they slice their way through the skin of the animal, leaving a Y-shaped cut. Behind the blades is the mouth, located at the anterior end of the body. It leads into the pharynx, then the esophagus, the crop, the gizzard, and the intestine, which ends at the rear sucker. Possibly as an adaptation, its digestive process is extremely slow.
In most blood-sucking leeches, the digestive system starts with the jaws, three blades set at an angle to each other. While feeding they slice their way through the skin of the animal, leaving a Y-shaped cut. Behind the blades is the mouth, located at the anterior end of the body. It leads into the pharynx, then the esophagus, the crop, the gizzard, and the intestine, which ends at the rear sucker. Possibly as an adaptation, its digestive process is extremely slow.