Arhynchobdellida [Arhynchobdellida]

Description

Arhynchobdellida encompasses leeches that lack a proboscis and instead possess a muscular pharynx for sucking blood or ingesting prey. This order includes both jawed and jawless leeches, with the jawed leeches equipped with one to three pairs of sharp jaws that cut into the host's flesh, allowing them to consume blood. The jawless species, such as those in the family Erpobdellidae, feed on small invertebrates by ingesting them whole. While primarily freshwater inhabitants, some species in this order have adapted to terrestrial or marine environments. Marine arhynchobdellids are less common but can be found attached to various marine hosts, including fish and invertebrates, in coastal waters. They play significant roles in their ecosystems, both as predators and as a food source for other animals.

Families

Taxonomy