Classification:

• Phylum : Annelida
• Class : Hirudinea
• Order : Gnathobdellida
• Genus : Hirudo
• Species : medicinalis

Comments:

1. 1. Commonly known as common Indian cattle Leech.
2. 2. Body is cylindrically elongated dorosoventrally flattened measuring 40cm.
3. 3. Anterior and posterior suckers are well developed and are meant for attachment.
4. 4. Anterior sucker is formed by prostomium and rest of the body contains about 95 superficial segment or annuli and 36 to 37 true segments.
5. 5. Segmentes 3, 4, & 5, 6 have 2 &; 3 annuli each, respectively.
6. 6. Rest of the segments have 5 annuli each. The first 5 segments have 5 pairs of small eyes in the first annulus.
7. 7. First annulus of each segment contains segmental papillae.
8. 8. Posterior end contains posterior sucker formed by the union of 7 segments. The entire animal is divided into cephalic, preclitellar, clitellar, middle, caudal, regions and posterior sucker.
9. 9. Mouth is found as a narrow, tri-radiate aperture opening in the pre-oral chamber. Nephridiopores are found ventrally on the last annnulus of each segment from 6 to 22.
10. The coelom is reduced in the form of 4 channels, called haemocoelomic channels.

Source:

1. Practical Zoology Invertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.