Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in Ponds and Rivers in Utah
Hirudinea Order
| Family | Picture | Description | Habitat |
|
Erpobdellidae leeches |
 |
20-50 mm in length
Erpobdellidae have large anterior suckers and no jaws or teeth. They are predators and typically engulf their prey. They can have 0, 3 or 4 pairs of eyes.
|
10 species occur in North America, young in cocoons are attached to hard substrates |
|
Glossiphoniidae leeches |
 |
Anterior sucker fused to the head, protractible proboscis, no jaws, flattened bodies that are much wider than the head, 1-4 pairs of eyes 7-39 mm in length |
Occurs in streams, lakes and ponds. |
|
Hirudinidae leeches |
 |
<10 cm, however some can grow up to 40 cm long. Hirudinidae have 2 suckers at either end of body, have colorful patterns |
Found in mostly still and slow moving warmer fresh waters, however can be found in cold, clear streams and rivers. |
|
Piscicolidae leeches |
 |
Anterior sucker expanded, separate from the body, small mouth pore with a protrusible proboscis, more cylindrical body than the other families, 0-2 pairs of eyes 1-2 cm in length |
10 species in North America |
Back to my organism is worm like