How are leeches adapted to a parasitic lifestyle?

The leech feeds on animal and human blood. With the help of suction cups, which are located at opposite ends of the body, the leech can move and attach itself firmly while sucking blood. The leech also determines the place where you can suck with suckers. Leeches have well-developed sense organs, they can identify a victim in water by smell, noise and changes in water temperature. The mouth has 3 jaws, which easily bite through the victim’s body. To prevent blood from clotting during suction, hirudin is released into the wound. Due to the sucked blood of the victim, the stomach of the leech can increase several times.