Predatory worms found on every continent except Antarctica. Some people even call them their pets, while other hospital patients call for their aid. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the leech we love to hate! SUBSCRIBE for the latest videos: https://goo.gl/7xzjzR Don't forget to CHECK OUT our latest upload: https://goo.gl/LUB8Xw They’re everywhere Leeches prefers the likes of marshes, rivers, and ponds. One-fifth of the leech population inhabit the sea, while another demographic delight in the vegetation of thick forests. Leeches have been known to get around the globe inhabiting every continent except for Antarctica, though some accounts swear that these wormy suckers have shown up in arctic waters too. They Get Pretty Big The giant Amazon leech, for example, can get up to 18 inches in length and live to an astonishing 20 years old. Like all the hematophagous species, one in particular called H. ghilianii will stick its 6-inch-long proboscis into a host, drink for almost an hour if gone unnoticed, and then fall off, full and satisfied. They’re Tender Leech mothers will routinely hover over their egg cocoons to constantly keep predators at bay. Once they’ve entered the world, baby leeches will glue themselves to momma’s belly and tag along while she engages in her daily to-do’s. Some even carry the next generation of wiggly worms in a specialized pouch reminiscent of a cute, baby koala attached to its mother. They Don’t All Suck With 700 known species and an indeterminate number left undiscovered, the leech is a predatory worm with a long, soft body reminiscent of an earthworm that can lengthen and contract. Leeches will suction themselves to the supple skin, as they’ve developed a keen taste for blood while becoming quite good at stealing. Though they don’t all suck—blood, that is. Luckily hematophagous, which means to feed on blood, comprises of only one type of leech species. They Make Great Pets Leeches make excellent pets. Such like any domestic animal, you have to know how and when to feed them, otherwise, they will most definitely take to stealing your own vital resources. Some leech enthusiasts love the attention and "therapy" as their main motive for having the parasite as a pet. Amy Tan Has her own species When world-renowned author Amy Tan included land-based leeches in her 2005 novel, Saving Fish from Drowning, leech researchers quickly too an interest to the writer. As there aren’t many works of fiction which feature terrestrial leeches, and many who misunderstand the life of a leech, a team of scientists had an idea. They’re Medicinal Leeches as medical helpers date all the way back to ancient Egypt. In 1831, the Manchester Royal Infirmary famously used 50,000 leeches to treat their ailing patients. Leech bites stimulate circulation and along with anesthetics, leeches inject an anticoagulating chemical when they feed. Through the prevention of blood clots, leech therapy is conducive in reattaching amputated limbs and fingers. So, while the unorthodox parasite may have fallen out of popularity with modern medicine, they are still widely sought after today. The most widely sought after species used in a number of different medical procedures is Hirudo medicinalis, better known as medical leech. Surgeons keep these guys on hand in the operating room for use as mini-vacuums to soak up some of the gore in addition to keeping blood clots at bay. They Can Predict the Weather In 1850 an inventor by the name of Dr. George Merryweather found himself intrigued when changes in barometric pressure encouraged freshwater leeches to become agitated. As anyone would think to do, the doctor plucked twelve of the slimy suspects into individual glass tubes and rung each with a bell. The contraption was called the ‘Atmospheric Electromagnetic Telegraph Conducted by Animal Instinct,’ though the device is remembered today as the ‘leech barometer. They’ve Been Known to Stop an Army In 1979, the men in Napoleon's militia began acting strangely. Suddenly, there was a host of unidentifiable symptoms infiltrating the army from coughing up bloody mucus to frequent vomiting and a “painful stinging" all over their bodies. Eventually, the swelling, hemorrhaging, and emaciation eventually gave way to an ugly, untimely death. There are more out there Researchers are only aware of the 700 species found to date— according to science.
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