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Hirudo Medicinalis

Segmented Worms

Hirudo medicinalis, the European medicinal leech, is one of several leech species historically used as medicinal leeches, in the family Hirudinidae. Mature adults reach up to 20 centimeters in length, colored green, brown, or greenish-brown, with two suckers and tripartite saw-like jaws bearing about 100 sharp edges, and can consume up to ten times their own body weight in a single feeding. It prefers muddy freshwater pools and weedy ditches in temperate climates, ranging across Europe into Asia as far as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan; nineteenth century over-harvesting sharply reduced its populations, and it is now classified Near Threatened by the IUCN and protected under CITES Appendix II, while remaining in medical use for reconstructive surgery and other therapies.

Facts

Classification

Diet

Parasitic 1

System (Realm)

Freshwater 2

Relationship to People

Farmed or Commercially Raised 3

Relationship to People

Used in Traditional Medicine 3

Living or Extinct

Yes 4

Comparison

NatureServe Rank

GNR Unranked 5

CITES Appendix

Appendix II 3

Scientific Name

Hirudo medicinalis 6

Conservation Status

Near Threatened 3

Connections

Child Taxon Of

Source Hirudo Medicinalis (Wikidata)

In Biome

Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Hirudo medicinalis (Animal Diversity Web)

In the Other Atlases

Found In

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Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources

1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Hirudo medicinalis (Animal Diversity Web)

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Food Habits
Hirudo medicinalis is parasitic and the adults feed on the blood of mammals.
In Biome: Lake, Habitat: Aquatic Biomes
Aquatic Biomes lakes and ponds

View the Source

2. GBIF Species API

GBIF Species APIView the Source

3. Wikipedia: Hirudo medicinalis

Wikipedia

Historically
Leech therapy is mentioned a few hundred years later in Shennong Bencaojing, a 3rd-century CE book of traditional Chinese medicine.
Article text
The species is protected under Appendix II of CITES meaning international trade (including in parts and derivatives) is regulated by the CITES permitting system.
Range and ecology section
As a result, this species is now considered near threatened by the IUCN, and European medicinal leeches are legally protected through nearly all of their natural range.

View the Source

4. Hirudo Medicinalis (Wikidata)

Wikidata

Statements section, conservation status (P141)
Wikidata Q30041: near threatened (P141).
Child Taxon Of: Clitellata, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
In Group: Leeches (Hirudinea), Lead
Hirudo medicinalis, or the European medicinal leech, is one of several species of leeches used as medicinal leeches.

View the Source

5. NatureServe Explorer: Hirudo medicinalis

NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)

Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)

"roundedGRank": "GNR"

View the Source

6. Wikipedia: Hirudo medicinalis

WikipediaWikidata Q30041 (P225 taxon name)View the Source

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