Leeches

Question 1

Leeches Taxonomy

Answer 1

Phylum Annelida
Class Clitellata
Subclass Hirudinea

Question 2

Hirudinea habitat

Answer 2

FW and terrestrial

Small portion marine

Question 3

Hirudinea body plan

Answer 3

Lack parapodia and head appendages and setae
No septa
Continuous coelomic space with connective tissue or mesenchyme

Question 4

Mesenchyme

Answer 4

Hirudinea

Fills large coelomic space

Question 5

Hirudinea locomotion

Answer 5

Locomotor over solid substrates using suckers as temporary anchors
Anterior and posterior suckers
Extend forward using circular muscle and attach with anterior sucker, then relax circ. muscles and contract longitudinal muscles; arch body to bring together suckers and then repeat

Question 6

Hirudinea Feeding

Answer 6

Ectoparasitic: feed on blood of other invertebrates and vertebrates
Possess jaws: three toothed incision

Question 7

Hirudinea Medicinal Purposes

Answer 7

Alleviate fluid pressure following damage to vascular tissue
1. Drains excess blood
2. Injects anticoagulant (Hirudin)
Antibiotics
Blood clots

Question 8

Hirudinea Reproduction

Answer 8

Simultaneous hermaphrodites
No free-living larval stage
A few segments involved in gametogenesis
Internal fertilization: copulation or jabbing sperm (spermatophore)
Mutual sperm exchange

Question 9

Gametogenesis

Answer 9

Gamete production

Question 10

Hirudinea Clitellum

Answer 10

Functions in producing the cocoon and nutritive fluid

Mini leech emerges from cocoon

Question 11

Hirudinea Digestion

Answer 11

Linear and unsegmented

Food moved through tract by muscle contraction or cilia