Animal Diversity 7th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073524255
ISBN 13: 978-0-07352-425-2

Chapter 11 - Review Questions - Page 244: 11

Answer

Most leeches live as parasitic carnivores. Some are temporary parasites, sucking blood from vertebrates, while some of permanent parasites who never leave their host. Most leeches have a muscular, producible proboscis with three jaws that all have teeth. The leeches penetrate the body of their prey with their jaws and then feed on the juices of their prey. The suck out these juices with their powerful pharynx. Predatory leeches feed frequently. Those that feed on the blood of their prey consume large meals and then digest their food very slowly over a long period of time.

Work Step by Step

Most leeches live as parasitic carnivores. Some are temporary parasites, sucking blood from vertebrates, while some of permanent parasites who never leave their host. Most leeches have a muscular, producible proboscis with three jaws that all have teeth. The leeches penetrate the body of their prey with their jaws and then feed on the juices of their prey. The suck out these juices with their powerful pharynx. Predatory leeches feed frequently. Those that feed on the blood of their prey consume large meals and then digest their food very slowly over a long period of time.
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