American Medicinal Leech [Macrobdella decora]
Description
The American Medicinal Leech is a parasitic marine leech native to North America. They are often greenish-brown, with a bright orange belly and a distinct pattern of spots and stripes. They inhabit slow-moving or stagnant freshwater bodies and feed on blood from vertebrates.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Leeches
Hirudinea
|
| Order |
Rhynchobdellida
Rhynchobdellida
|
| Family |
Piscicolids
Piscicolidae
|
| Genus |
Marine Leech
Oceanobdella
|