Duck leech (Theromyzon tessulatum) carrying its brood of juvenile leeches. This is an example of maternal behaviour, where up to 200 young leeches sta

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Duck leech (Theromyzon tessulatum) carrying its brood of juvenile leeches. This is an example of maternal behaviour, where up to 200 young leeches stay attached to the parent leech, absorbing nutrients through the ventral surface. This leech was found in a pond in Newcastle Emlyn, Wales, UK.

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Size: 3615px × 2915px
Photo credit: © SINCLAIR STAMMERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, animal, annelid, annelida, aquatic, baby, background, behaviour, biological, biology, black, duck, fauna, hirudinea, juvenile, leech, leeches, maternal, nature, nutrients, offspring, suckers, tessulatum, theromyzon, wildlife, young, zoological, zoology