Freshwater leech's head sucker. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head sucker of a freshwater leech (Hirudo sp.). This parasite has t

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Freshwater leech's head sucker. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head sucker of a freshwater leech (Hirudo sp.). This parasite has two suckers. Its rear sucker is used to attach itself to the victim while its head sucker contains a mouth and teeth, which are used to feed on the blood. Freshwater leeches are found in lakes and marshes, as well as slow-flowing streams. They feed on the blood of fish, amphibians and mammals. Magnification: x100 when printed 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 4000px × 3010px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, annelid, annelida, biological, biology, blood-feeder, blood-sucker, coloured, ectoparasite, false-colour, false-coloured, fauna, fresh, freshwater, front, head, hirudinea, hirudinidae, invertebrate, invertebrates, leech, mouth, nature, parasite, parasitic, sem, single, sucker, water, wildlife, worm, zoological, zoology