European Medicinal Leech [Helobdella medicinalis]
Description
A species of leech used historically in medicine for bloodletting. It has a flattened body, with a dark green or brown dorsum and a yellowish ventral side, and orange spots along the body. It is found in freshwater habitats in Europe, and feeds on the blood of vertebrates.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Leeches
Hirudinea
|
| Order |
Rhynchobdellida
Rhynchobdellida
|
| Family |
Glossiphoniids
Glossiphoniidae
|
| Genus |
Helobdella
Helobdella
|