Hirudiniformes
Suborder of annelid worms / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hirudiniformes are one of the currently-accepted suborders of the proboscisless leeches (Arhynchobdellida). Their best-known member is the European medical leech, Hirudo medicinalis, and indeed most of the blood-sucking "worms" as which leeches are generally perceived belong to this group. In general, though some leeches suck blood, many are predators which hunt small invertebrates.
Hirudiniformes | |
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Haemopis species (Haemopidae) in Danube-Auen National Park | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Annelida |
Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
Clade: | Sedentaria |
Class: | Clitellata |
Subclass: | Hirudinea |
Order: | Arhynchobdellida |
Suborder: | Hirudiniformes |
Families | |
Cylicobdellidae | |
Synonyms | |
Gnathobdellae |
The Arhynchobdellida were formerly divided into two groups, denoted by presence or absence of toothed jaws. But this does not represent a natural division, as has now been determined - the most primitive proboscisless leeches are not found among the jawed blood-sucking forms as was generally believed, but among the jawless predators.[citation needed]