Family HIRUDINIDAE Whitman, 1886
Introduction
Freshwater and amphibious leeches that typically feed on the blood of vertebrates, but are also known to feed on invertebrates including oligochaetes and other leeches. Members of this family are known for the medicinal properties of their salivary extracts and are used in plastic surgery.
Diagnosis
Three jaws armed with teeth or a cutting edge.
History of changes
Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02-Jun-2011 | MODIFIED |