North Atlantic Fish Leech [Piscicola geometra]
Description
The North Atlantic Fish Leech is a parasitic worm that primarily lives in the North Atlantic Ocean. This leech is known to infest a variety of fish species, attaching itself to the host with a specialized sucker. It is typically brown or black in color, and can reach up to 2 cm in length. It is characterized by its segmented body and sharp teeth which it uses to penetrate the skin of fish.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Leeches
Hirudinea
|
| Order |
Rhynchobdellida
Rhynchobdellida
|
| Family |
Piscicolids
Piscicolidae
|
| Genus |
Fish Leech
Cystobranchus
|